Modelling a ratchet with cold atoms in an optical lattice

Cécile Robilliard (1) , D. Lucas (2, 3) , G. Grynberg (2)

1 I²M - Interactions Ions-Matière (LCAR)
2 LKB (Lhomond) - Laboratoire Kastler Brossel
3 Clarendon Laboratory [Oxford]

In this paper, we present an experimental study of a model ratchet consisting of laser-cooled rubidium atoms localized in an asymmetric periodic potential. This potential is obtained from a near-resonant light field and an additional static magnetic field. We show that there is a net motion of atoms with a mean velocity on the order of a few cm/s and we investigate the role of the asymmetry of the potential and of the dissipation in the atomic motion. A link with the stochastic resonance is mentioned.

Mots clés: ratchet; rubidium; optical lattice; cold atoms

Domaines: Physique Quantique [quant-ph]

Cécile Robilliard, D. Lucas, G. Grynberg. Modelling a ratchet with cold atoms in an optical lattice. Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing, 2002, 75 (2), pp.213-216. ⟨10.1007/s003390201333⟩. ⟨hal-00003467⟩