Observation of photon-assisted tunneling in optical lattices

Year: 2008

Authors: Sias C., Lignier H., Singh Y.P., Zenesini A., Ciampini D., Morsch O., Arimondo E.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Fis E Fermi, CNR, INFM, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; CNISM Unita Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We have observed tunneling suppression and photon-assisted tunneling of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice subjected to a constant force plus a sinusoidal shaking. For a sufficiently large constant force, the ground energy levels of the lattice are shifted out of resonance and tunneling is suppressed; when the shaking is switched on, the levels are coupled by low-frequency photons and tunneling resumes. Our results agree well with theoretical predictions and demonstrate the usefulness of optical lattices for studying solid-state phenomena.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 100      Pages from: 040404-1  to: 040404-4

KeyWords: COHERENT, Optical lattices, Bose Einstein condensates
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.040404