Self-trapped dynamics in 2D optical lattice

POSTER

Abstract

We will discuss a mean field model to study the expansion of an array of one dimensional vertical tubes of cold bosonic atoms confined in a two dimensional optical lattice after the crossed dipole trap used for the initial loading is suddenly turned off. The method uses a Lagrangian formalism to derive Newtonian-like equations of motion that include tunneling between wells and nonlinear mean field effects due to atomic interactions. In our model, the pure mean field dynamics predicts macroscopic self-trapping manifested in accumulation of atoms at the edge of the cloud and formation of a hole at the center. When quantum fluctuations are counted for, the self-trapping is considerably suppressed, and the predictions of the model are in better agreement with the recent experiment measurements.

Authors

  • Shuming Li

    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder

  • Rafael Hipolito

    • Department of Physics, Boston University

  • Jean-Felix Riou

    • Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  • David Weiss

    • Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  • Anatoli Polkovnikov

    • Department of Physics, Boston University
    • Boston University

  • Ana Maria Rey

    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado (JILA)
    • JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    • JILA \& Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder
    • JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
    • JILA and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA