Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 20: Quantum Information: Concepts and Methods 3

Q 20.10: Talk

Tuesday, March 15, 2011, 12:45–13:00, SCH A118

Simulation of relativistic effects with ultracold atoms in bichromatic optical lattices — •Christopher Grossert, Tobias Salger, Sebastian Kling, and Martin Weitz — Institut für Angewandte Physik, Wegelerstr.8 , 53115 Bonn, Germany

We propose a scheme to simulate relativistic effects with ultracold rubidium atoms in bichromatic optical lattice potentials. In an earlier experiment, we have investigated the energy splitting betweeen the first and second excited Bloch band of a Fourier- synthesized lattice potential created by superimposing two lattice harmonics with different spatial periodicities [1]. Interestingly for specific values of the potential depths of the lattice harmonics, the energy dispersion for ultracold atoms shows a linear behaviour, where the dynamics of the particles can be described by the linear Dirac equation. We expect to observe relativistic effects like Klein tunneling, where ultrarelativistic particles penetrate a potential barrier without significant damping, regardless of the height and length of the barrier [2]. This effect has already been demonstrated in graphene, which shows a similar relativistic energy dispersion for free electrons [3]. More- over, we expect to be able to investigate effects predicted by the linear and non-linear Dirac equation.

References
[1] Salger, T. ; Geckeler, C. ; Kling, S. ; Weitz, M.: Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 190405 (2007)
[2] Klein, O.: Z.Physik 53 127 (1929)
[3] Stander, N. ; Huard, B. ; Goldhaber-Gordon, D.: Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 026807 (2009)