Direct Observation of Tunneling and Nonlinear Self-Trapping in a Single Bosonic Josephson Junction

Michael Albiez, Rudolf Gati, Jonas Fölling, Stefan Hunsmann, Matteo Cristiani, and Markus K. Oberthaler
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 010402 – Published 27 June 2005

Abstract

We report on the first realization of a single bosonic Josephson junction, implemented by two weakly linked Bose-Einstein condensates in a double-well potential. In order to fully investigate the nonlinear tunneling dynamics we measure the density distribution in situ and deduce the evolution of the relative phase between the two condensates from interference fringes. Our results verify the predicted nonlinear generalization of tunneling oscillations in superconducting and superfluid Josephson junctions. Additionally, we confirm a novel nonlinear effect known as macroscopic quantum self-trapping, which leads to the inhibition of large amplitude tunneling oscillations.

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  • Received 7 December 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.010402

©2005 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Michael Albiez1, Rudolf Gati1, Jonas Fölling1, Stefan Hunsmann1, Matteo Cristiani2, and Markus K. Oberthaler1

  • 1Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2CNR-INFM, Dipartimento di Fisica E. Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo B. Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy

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Vol. 95, Iss. 1 — 1 July 2005

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