Photovoltaic transistor of atoms due to spin-orbit coupling in three optical traps

TL;DR

This paper investigates the photovoltaic effect induced by spin-orbit coupling in cold atoms within a three-trap system, extending previous two-trap models and analyzing how trap geometry and coherence length influence current.

Contribution

It introduces a three-trap system model for atomic photovoltaic effects, highlighting the role of atom coherence length and trap geometry in current behavior, expanding prior two-trap studies.

Findings

Increasing the number of traps enhances the current.

Atom coherence length significantly affects system resistance.

Trap geometry influences the photovoltaic current.

Abstract

In this paper, spin-orbit coupling induced photovoltaic effect of cold atoms has been studied in a three-trap system which is an two-dimensional extension of a two-trap system reported previously. It is proposed here that atom coherent length is one of the important influence to the resistance of this photovoltaic battery. Current properties of the system for different geometrical structures of the trapping potentials are discussed. Numerical results show extension in the number of traps could cause current increase directly. Quantum master equation at finite temperature is used to treat this opened system. This work may give a theoretical basis for further development of the photovoltaic effect of neutral atoms.