The lifetime of a Bloch particle in a homogeneous field is calculated numerically as a function of the field amplitude. A simple model explaining the characteristic features of the field dependence of the lifetime is introduced. The theoretical results are compared with the experimental data of C. F. Bharucha et al. [Phys. Rev. A 55, R857 (1997)] obtained for cold sodium atoms in an accelerated optical lattice.

• Received 19 February 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.891