title: Dissipative quantum dynamics of bosonic atoms in a shallow 1D optical lattice.
abstract: We theoretically study the dipolar motion of bosonic atoms in a very shallow, strongly confined 1D optical lattice using the parameters of the recent experiment [C. D. Fertig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 120403 (2005)]. We find that, due to momentum uncertainty, a small, but non-negligible, atom population occupies the unstable velocity region of the corresponding classical dynamics, resulting in the observed dissipative atom transport. This population is generated even in a static vapor, due to quantum fluctuations which are enhanced by the lattice and the confinement, and is not notably affected by the motion of atoms or finite temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Herts AL10 9AB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruostekoski
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Isella