Coherent Transport of Neutral Atoms in Spin-Dependent Optical Lattice Potentials

TLDR

Such experiments open intriguing possibilities for quantum state engineering of many‑body states. We demonstrate controlled coherent transport and splitting of atomic wave packets in spin‑dependent optical lattice potentials. After preparing localized atomic wave functions in a Mott insulating phase, we place each atom in a superposition of two spin states and then use state‑selective optical potentials to split and transport the wave packets in opposite directions. Coherence between the wave packets of an atom delocalized over up to seven lattice sites is demonstrated.

Abstract

We demonstrate the controlled coherent transport and splitting of atomic wave packets in spin-dependent optical lattice potentials. Such experiments open intriguing possibilities for quantum state engineering of many body states. After first preparing localized atomic wave functions in an optical lattice through a Mott insulating phase, we place each atom in a superposition of two internal spin states. Then state selective optical potentials are used to split the wave function of a single atom and transport the corresponding wave packets in two opposite directions. Coherence between the wave packets of an atom delocalized over up to 7 lattice sites is demonstrated.