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Phys. Rev. A 85, 011604(R) (2012) [4 pages]

Coherent backscattering of ultracold matter waves: Momentum space signatures

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Nicolas Cherroret1, Tomasz Karpiuk2,3, Cord A. Müller2, Benoît Grémaud2,4,5, and Christian Miniatura2,4,6
1Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
2Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543, Singapore
3Wydział Fizyki, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, ulica Lipowa 41, PL-15-424 Białystok, Poland
4Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, Singapore 117542, Singapore
5Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, UPMC, ENS, CNRS; 4 Place Jussieu, F-75005 Paris, France
6Institut Non Linéaire de Nice, UMR 7335, UNS, CNRS; 1361 route des Lucioles, F-06560 Valbonne, France

Received 5 August 2011; published 10 January 2012

Using analytical and numerical methods, it is shown that the momentum distribution of a matter wave packet launched in a random potential exhibits a pronounced coherent backscattering (CBS) peak. By analyzing the momentum distribution, key transport times can be directly measured. The CBS peak can be used to prove that transport occurs in the phase-coherent regime, and measuring its time dependence permits monitoring the transition from classical diffusion to Anderson localization.

©2012 American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.011604
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevA.85.011604
PACS:
03.75.-b, 05.60.Gg, 42.25.Dd, 72.15.Rn
 
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