Continuous-Time Random Walk for a Particle in a Periodic Potential

Andreas Dechant, Farina Kindermann, Artur Widera, and Eric Lutz
Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 070602 – Published 13 August 2019
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Continuous-time random walks offer powerful coarse-grained descriptions of transport processes. We here microscopically derive such a model for a Brownian particle diffusing in a deep periodic potential. We determine both the waiting-time and the jump-length distributions in terms of the parameters of the system, from which we analytically deduce the non-Gaussian characteristic function. We apply this continuous-time random walk model to characterize the underdamped diffusion of single cesium atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. We observe excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical characteristic functions, without any free parameter.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 28 January 2019
  • Revised 4 April 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.070602

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Statistical Physics & ThermodynamicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Andreas Dechant1, Farina Kindermann2, Artur Widera2,3, and Eric Lutz4

  • 1WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
  • 2Department of Physics and Research Center OPTIMAS, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • 3Graduate School Materials Science in Mainz, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • 4Institute for Theoretical Physics I, University of Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 123, Iss. 7 — 16 August 2019

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×