Nonlinear dynamics of atoms in a crossed optical dipole trap

Abstract

We explore the classical dynamics of atoms in an optical dipole trap formed by two identical Gaussian beams propagating in perpendicular directions. The phase space is a mixture of regular and chaotic orbits, the later becoming dominant as the energy of the atoms increases. The trapping capabilities of these perpendicular Gaussian beams are investigated by considering an atomic ensemble in free motion. After a sudden turn on of the dipole trap, a certain fraction of atoms in the ensemble remains trapped. The majority of these trapped atoms has energies larger than the escape channels, which can be explained by the existence of regular and chaotic orbits with very long escape times.

References in corpus (1)

• Single atoms in a standing-wave dipole trap

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Controlling Spin-flips of Molecules in an Electromagnetic Trap
• Statics and dynamics of quasi one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate in harmonic and dimple trap
• Simulating sympathetic cooling of atomic mixtures in nonlinear traps
• Energy transfer mechanisms in a dipole chain: From energy equipartition to the formation of breathers