Return to the Origin as a Probe of Atomic Phase Coherence

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the observation of enhanced return probability in a cold-atom system subjected to periodic kicks, using it to measure atomic decoherence rates through quantum interference effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to probe atomic phase coherence by analyzing oscillations in enhanced return probability in a periodically driven cold-atom gas.

Findings

Observation of oscillating enhanced return to the origin in cold atoms

Quantification of atomic decoherence rate via ERO decay

Insight into reversible dephasing mechanisms in quantum interference

Abstract

We report on the observation of the coherent enhancement of the return probability ("enhanced return to the origin" , ERO) in a periodically kicked cold-atom gas. By submitting an atomic wave packet to a pulsed, periodically shifted laser standing wave, we induce an oscillation of ERO in time and explain it in terms of a periodic, reversible dephasing in the weak-localization interference sequences responsible for ERO. Monitoring the temporal decay of ERO, we exploit its quantum coherent nature to quantify the decoherence rate of the atomic system.