Bloch oscillations in lattice potentials with controlled aperiodicity

Stefan Walter, Dominik Schneble, and Adam C. Durst

Phys. Rev. A 81, 033623 – Published 24 March 2010

Abstract

We numerically investigate the damping of Bloch oscillations in a one-dimensional lattice potential whose translational symmetry is broken in a systematic manner, either by making the potential bichromatic or by introducing scatterers at distinct lattice sites. We find that the damping strongly depends on the ratio of lattice constants in the bichromatic potential and that even a small concentration of scatterers can lead to strong damping. Moreover, collisional interparticle interactions are able to counteract aperiodicity-induced damping of Bloch oscillations. The discussed effects should readily be observable for ultracold atoms in optical lattices.

Received 4 December 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.81.033623

Authors & Affiliations

Stefan Walter^*, Dominik Schneble, and Adam C. Durst^†

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-3800, USA

^*Present address: Department of Physics, University of Würzburg, Germany.
^†Present address: Photon Research Associates, Port Jefferson, New York, USA.

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Vol. 81, Iss. 3 — March 2010

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