Mesoscopic quantum coherence in an optical lattice

Abstract

We observe the quantum coherent dynamics of atomic spinor wavepackets in the double well potentials of a far-off-resonance optical lattice. With appropriate initial conditions the system Rabi oscillates between the left and right localized states of the ground doublet, and at certain times the wavepacket corresponds to a coherent superposition of these mesoscopically distinguishable quantum states. The atom/optical double well potential is a flexible and powerful system for further study of mesoscopic quantum coherence, quantum control and the quantum/classical transition.

12 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters