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Quantum Delta-Kicked Rotor: Experimental Observation of Decoherence

H. Ammann, R. Gray, I. Shvarchuck, and N. Christensen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 4111 – Published 11 May 1998
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Abstract

We report on the experimental observation of environment induced decoherence in the quantum delta-kicked rotor. Ultracold cesium atoms are subjected to a pulsed standing wave of near resonant light. Spontaneous scattering of photons destroys dynamical localization thereby giving rise to a quantum diffusion, which approaches the classical diffusion with an increasing degree of decoherence. This tendency is enhanced by a stronger stochasticity in the underlying classical system. A comparison with theoretical predictions is presented.

  • Received 8 December 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.4111

©1998 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

H. Ammann, R. Gray, I. Shvarchuck*, and N. Christensen

  • Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

  • *Present address: FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

See Also

The World of Quantum Chaos

Graham P. Collins
Phys. Rev. Focus 2, 8 (1998)

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Issue

Vol. 80, Iss. 19 — 11 May 1998

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