Rectified momentum transport for a kicked Bose-Einstein condensate.
We report the experimental observation of rectified momentum transport for a Bose-Einstein condensate kicked at the Talbot time (quantum resonance) by an optical standing wave. Atoms are initially prepared in a superposition of the 0 and -2hkl momentum states using an optical pi/2 pulse. By changing the relative phase of the superposed states, a momentum current in either direction along the standing wave may be produced. We offer an interpretation based on matter-wave interference, showing that the observed effect is uniquely quantum.
Institute for Laser Science, The University of Electro Communications, Chofushi, Chofugaoka 1-5-1, Japan. mark@ils.uec.ac.jp
Mark
M
Sadgrove
Munekazu
M
Horikoshi
Tetsuo
T
Sekimura
Ken'ichi
K
Nakagawa