Observation of transient momentum-space interference during scattering of a condensate from an optical barrier

Rockson Chang, Shreyas Potnis, Christopher W. Ellenor, Mirco Siercke, Alex Hayat, Aephraim M. Steinberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Scattering theory traditionally deals with the asymptotic behavior of a system far removed from the actual scattering event. Here we present an experimental study of the one-dimensional scattering of a noninteracting condensate of 87Rb atoms from a potential barrier in the nonasymptotic regime for which the collision dynamics are still ongoing. We show that, for near-transparent barriers, there are two distinct transient scattering effects that arise and dramatically change the momentum distribution during the collision: a deceleration of wave-packet components in midcollision and an interference between incident and transmitted portions of the wave packet. Both effects lead to the re-distribution of momenta giving rise to a rich interference pattern that can be used to reconstruct the single-particle phase profile.

Original languageEnglish
Article number053634
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume88
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 Nov 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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