Exploring Classically Chaotic Potentials with a Matter Wave Quantum Probe

Abstract

We study an experimental setup in which a quantum probe, provided by a quasimonomode guided atom laser, interacts with a static localized attractive potential whose characteristic parameters are tunable. In this system, classical mechanics predicts a transition from regular to chaotic behavior as a result of the coupling between the different degrees of freedom. Our experimental results display a clear signature of this transition. On the basis of extensive numerical simulations, we discuss the quantum versus classical physics predictions in this context. This system opens new possibilities for investigating quantum scattering, provides a new testing ground for classical and quantum chaos, and enables us to revisit the quantum-classical correspondence.

Inelastic Multiple Scattering of Interacting Bosons in Weak Random Potentials

“…[97], recent applications of matter waves as quantum probes [98] open the horizon for matter wave applications in metrology and also for transport studies, as proposed in the present thesis. Microtrap geometries, also known as atom chips offer another intriguing possibility of creating and controlling matter waves in a precise manner [99].…”

Chaotic dynamics and fractal structures in experiments with cold atoms

“…This type of system is quite generic in guided atom optics to generate beam splitters [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In practice, the waveguides can be produced by light using two out-of-resonance Gaussian laser beams crossing at an angle θ [4][5][6][7]. They generate a potential energy of the form…”

“…[7]. Positive Lyapunov exponents, a hallmark of chaos, were also estimated for experiments with ultracold atoms [6]. The recent development of new techniques of nonlinear dynamics allows to extract much more information from the same kind of experiments and, more importantly, to indicate how we can infer these signatures of chaos not only by numerical simulations but from direct measurements.…”

“…More recently, the Bose-Einstein condensate regime was explored using optical waveguides [6,7]. Despite the quantum nature of these systems, some results could be understood using classical mechanics.…”

“…More specifically, we consider the configuration experimentally investigated in Refs. [4][5][6][7] and propose a new approach to such experiments that exploit a Monte Carlo sampling of the incoming wave packet parameters combined with a proper statistical analysis.…”