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arXiv · 0709.3137

Observation of photon-assisted tunneling in optical lattices

C. Sias·H. Lignier·Y. P. Singh·A. Zenesini·D. Ciampini·O. Morsch·E. Arimondo
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Abstract

We have observed tunneling suppression and photon-assisted tunneling of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical lattice subjected to a constant force plus a sinusoidal shaking. For a sufficiently large constant force, the ground energy levels of the lattice are shifted out of resonance and tunneling is suppressed; when the shaking is switched on, the levels are coupled by low-frequency photons and tunneling resumes. Our results agree well with theoretical predictions and demonstrate the usefulness of optical lattices for studying solid-state phenomena.

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C. Sias, H. Lignier, Y. P. Singh, A. Zenesini, D. Ciampini, O. Morsch, E. Arimondo. 2007-09-20. Observation of photon-assisted tunneling in optical lattices. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.100.040404

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