Ultracold atoms in an optical lattice with dynamically variable periodicity

Journal article

The use of a dynamic "accordion" lattice with ultracold atoms is demonstrated. Ultracold atoms of Rb87 are trapped in a two-dimensional optical lattice, and the spacing of the lattice is then increased in both directions from 2.2 to 5.5 μm. Atoms remain bound for expansion times as short as a few milliseconds, and the experimentally measured minimum ramp time is found to agree well with numerical calculations. This technique allows an experiment such as quantum simulations to be performed with a lattice spacing smaller than the resolution limit of the imaging system, while allowing imaging of the atoms at individual lattice sites by subsequent expansion of the optical lattice. © 2010 The American Physical Society.

Authors: Al-Assam, S; Williams, R; Foot, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: PHYSICAL REVIEW A
• Volume: 82
• Issue: 2
• Publication date: 2010-08-11
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.82.021604
• EISSN: 1094-1622
• ISSN: 1050-2947
• Language: English