Southwest Quantum Information and Technology

Investigating cold atom transport in optical lattices and ratchets

Presenting Author: Ethan Clements, Miami University
Contributing Author(s): Preston Ross, Anthony Rapp, Andrew Hachtel, Samir Bali

We experimentally investigate cold atom transport in optical lattices and ratchets in an undergraduate setting using home-built laser and imaging systems. It is well-known that the transport properties exhibited in these situations by ultra-cold atoms depart from the usual framework of Boltzmann-Gibbs statistical mechanics. We describe our progress on implementation of methods to quantify these departures by tracking the atomic momentum and spatial distribution, and measuring the "dwell time" and "crossover time", respectively, in a particular well and between wells.

(Session 5 : Thursday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm)