Collapse and Revival for a slightly anharmonic Hamiltonian

TL;DR

This paper analytically and numerically demonstrates quantum collapse and revival in a slightly anharmonic Hamiltonian, exploring potential cold atom experiments.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of collapse and revival phenomena in a slightly anharmonic quantum system.

Findings

Analytical and numerical confirmation of collapse and revival

Discussion of experimental realizations with cold atoms

Initial wave-function as displaced harmonic ground state

Abstract

The effect of quantum collapse and revival is a fascinating interference phenomenon. In this paper the phenomenon is demonstrated analytically and numerically for a simple system, a slightly anharmonic Hamiltonian. The initial wave-function is a displaced ground state of a harmonic oscillator. Possible experimental realizations for cold atoms are discussed in detail.