title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Collisions Agrégats Réactivité, CNRS UMR 5589, IRSAMC, Université de Toulouse (UPS), 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse CEDEX 4, France.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gattobigio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couvert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Georgeot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guéry-Odelin