Exploring classically chaotic potentials with a matter wave quantum probe

Giovanni L. Gattobigio (1, 2, 3) , Antoine Couvert (1) , Bertrand Georgeot (4) , David Guéry-Odelin (2)

1 LKB (Lhomond) - Laboratoire Kastler Brossel
2 Atomes Froids (LCAR)
3 LCAR - Laboratoire Collisions Agrégats Réactivité
4 ICQ - Cohérence Quantique (LPT)

We study an experimental setup in which a quantum probe, provided by a quasi-monomode guided atom laser, interacts with a static localized attractive potential whose characteristic parameters are tunable. In this system, classical mechanics predicts a transition from a regular to a chaotic behavior as a result of the coupling between the longitudinal and transverse degrees of freedom. Our experimental results display a clear signature of this transition. On the basis of extensive numerical simulations, we discuss the quantum versus classical physics predictions in this context. This system opens new possibilities for investigating quantum scattering, provides a new testing ground for classical and quantum chaos and enables to revisit the quantum-classical correspondence.

Mots clés: atom laser; chaos

Domaines: Gaz Quantiques [cond-mat.quant-gas]; Dynamique Chaotique [nlin.CD]

Giovanni L. Gattobigio, Antoine Couvert, Bertrand Georgeot, David Guéry-Odelin. Exploring classically chaotic potentials with a matter wave quantum probe. Physical Review Letters, 2011, 107, pp.254104. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.254104⟩. ⟨hal-00591956v2⟩