"Bloch oscillations" in the Mott-insulator regime

TL;DR

This paper investigates the resonant dynamical response of cold atoms in the Mott insulator phase under a static force, revealing recurring interference patterns in momentum distribution linked to the interplay of Stark and interaction energies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the momentum distribution dynamics and defines the recurrence time for near-resonant forcing in the Mott insulator regime.

Findings

Momentum distribution develops recurring interference patterns.

Recurrence time is characterized and defined.

Resonant response linked to Stark and interaction energy coincidence.

Abstract

We study the dynamical response of cold interacting atoms in the Mott insulator phase to a static force. As shown in the experiment by M. Greiner et. al., Nature \textbf{415}, 39 (2002), this response has resonant character, with the main resonance defined by coincidence of Stark energy and on-site interaction energy. We analyse the dynamics of the atomic momentum distribution, which is the quantity measured in the experiment, for near resonant forcing. The momentum distribution is shown to develop a recurring interference pattern, with a recurrence time which we define in the paper.