Abstract
We study the motion of cold atoms in a pulsed standing wave of light, which constitutes an experimental realization of the quantum kicked rotor. This system exhibits dynamical localization, where quantum effects suppress classical momentum diffusion. As we introduce amplitude noise, the coherences that lead to localization are destroyed, resulting in restored diffusion. For high levels of noise, we find that the experiment is well described by a classical model, suggesting that classical behavior has been restored. We present a detailed experimental study of this noise-induced transition from quantum to classical behavior.
- Received 16 September 1999
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.62.3461
©2000 American Physical Society