Matter-wave interferometry in periodic and quasi-periodic arrays

TL;DR

This paper investigates matter-wave flow and interference patterns in Bose-Einstein condensates within quasi-one-dimensional arrays, highlighting the effects of periodic and quasi-periodic potentials on quantum interference.

Contribution

It introduces a Bose-Hubbard model analysis of matter-wave flow in complex arrays, exploring interference phenomena caused by engineered energy minigaps.

Findings

Interference patterns depend on array periodicity and quasi-periodicity.

Energy minigaps induce beam splitting in condensate flow.

Optical-laser structures can generate the observed condensate modulations.

Abstract

We calculate within a Bose-Hubbard tight-binding model the matter-wave flow driven by a constant force through a Bose-Einstein condensate of Rb 87 atoms in various types of quasi-onedimensional arrays of potential wells. Interference patterns are obtained when beam splitting is induced by creating energy minigaps either through period doubling or through quasi-periodicity governed by the Fibonacci series. The generation of such condensate modulations by means of optical-laser structures is also discussed.