Quantum oscillations in a two-mode atom-molecule Bose-Einstein condensate -- the discrete WKB approach

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum oscillations in a coupled atom-molecule Bose-Einstein condensate using the discrete WKB method, providing analytical and numerical insights beyond mean-field approximations.

Contribution

It introduces the discrete WKB approach to analyze quantum effects in a two-mode atom-molecule BEC, showing improved agreement with numerical results over mean-field theory.

Findings

Quantum fluctuations are comparable to mean populations.

Discrete WKB results align well with numerical simulations.

Quantum effects are significant in the two-mode BEC system.

Abstract

Quantum effects in a system of coupled atomic and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates in the framework of a two-mode model are studied numerically and analytically, using the discrete WKB approach. In contrast to the mean-field approximation, the WKB analytical results are in a very good agreement with numerical results. The quantum fluctuations of the atomic and molecular populations are calculated, and found to be of the same order of magnitude as their mean values.