Abstract
We observe asymmetric transition rates between Zeeman levels (spin flips) of magnetically trapped atoms. The asymmetry strongly depends on the spectral shape of an applied noise. This effect follows from the interplay between the internal states of the atoms and their external degrees of freedom, where different trapped levels experience different potentials. Such insight may prove useful for controlling atomic states by the introduction of noise, as well as provide a better understanding of the effect of noise on the coherent operation of quantum systems.
- Received 25 February 2010
- Publisher error corrected 15 November 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.203002
© 2010 The American Physical Society
Corrections
15 November 2010