Analysis of a Bose-Einstein Condensate Double-Well Atom Interferometer

作者:Faust Douglas K*; Reinhardt William P
来源:Physical Review Letters, 2010, 105(24): 240404.
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.240404

摘要

Motivated by an open theoretical question in Bose-Einstein condensate atom interferometry, we introduce a novel computational method to describe the condensate order parameter in the presence of a central barrier. We are able to follow the full dynamics of the system during the raising of a barrier, from a single macroscopically occupied ground state to a state where imaging shows a split density and, finally, to the observation of a phase-controlled interference pattern. We are able to discriminate between a mean-field and a two-mode state via the Penrose-Onsager criterion. By simulating the first such experiment, where in spite of the observed splitting of the condensate density there is never more than a single macroscopically occupied state, we provide a definitive interpretation of these systems as a novel many-body form of Young's double-slit experiment.

  • 出版日期2010-12-8