| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S79589/01 |
| Title: |
Theory and applications of quantum ratchets in atom optics |
| Principal Investigator: |
Monteiro, Professor T |
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| Department: |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
UCL |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 May 2004 |
Ends: |
30 April 2007 |
Value (£): |
165,608
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Light-Matter Interactions |
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Ratchets are devices for generating directed motion and are of much current interest, mainly in biophysics. However, most ratchet mechanisms rely on noise or dissipation: this makes them unsuitable for applications in atom optics, where maintaining quantum wave-coherence is essential. In this case, Hamiltonian ratchets are required (driven by chaotic dynamics rather than noise), but, to date, little work has been done on these: we ourselves proposed the first fully chaotic quantum ratchet mechanism in 2002. This was, in the last few months, implemented with cold atoms in optical lattices by the experimental cold atom group at UCL.Hence we now propose to develop techniques and codes to analyse real implementations in atom optics rather than the idealised models investigated theoretically. A particular aim would be to develop a `switch' to control traffic of cold atoms in devices such as `atom chips'. To this end we would wish to investigate whether these ratchets would be feasible with BECs and would model theoretically the time evolution of BECs in pulsed optical lattices. Finally, since the theory of Hamiltonian ratchets is still the subject of some controversy (with three separate mechanisms proposed in the literature) we propose to develop a more unified theoretical approach, also with a view to considering applications in atom optics.
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Key Findings |
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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