Multistable particle-field dynamics in cavity-generated optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex nonlinear dynamics of polarizable particles in cavity-generated optical lattices, revealing multiple stable states and quantum superpositions through theoretical and simulation methods.

Contribution

It introduces a mean-field model predicting multiple stationary solutions and confirms them with quantum Monte Carlo simulations, advancing understanding of quantum particle-field interactions.

Findings

Multiple stable photon and motional states identified

Quantum Monte Carlo confirms mean-field predictions

Potential for studying macroscopic quantum superpositions

Abstract

Polarizable particles trapped in a resonator-sustained optical-lattice potential generate strong position-dependent backaction on the intracavity field. In the quantum regime particles in different energy bands are connected to different intracavity light intensities and optical-lattice depths. This generates a highly nonlinear coupled particle-field dynamics. For a given pump strength and detuning, a factorizing mean-field approach predicts several self-consistent stationary solutions of strongly distinct photon numbers and motional states. Quantum Monte Carlo wavefunction simulations of the master equation confirm these predictions and reveal complex multi-modal photon-number and particle-momentum distributions. Using larger nanoparticles in such a setup thus constitutes a well-controllable playground to study nonlinear quantum dynamics and the buildup of macroscopic quantum superpositions at the quantum-classical boundary.