Nonlinear Effects for Bose Einstein Condensates in Optical Lattices

Cold atoms and, more recently, Bose-Einstein condensates （BEC＇s） in optical lattices have attracted increasing interest since their first realization. In particular, the formal similarity between the wavefunction of a BEC inside the periodic potential of an optical lattice and of the electrons in a crystal lattice has triggered theoretical and experimental efforts alike. Many phenomena from condensed matter physics, such as Bloch oscillations and Landau-Zener tunneling have been shown to be observable also in optical lattices. An important difference between electrons in a crystal lattice and a BEC inside the periodic potential of an optical lattice is the strength of the self interaction and hence the magnitude of the nonlinearity of the system. Electrons in a metal are almost noninteracting, whereas atoms inside a BEC interact strongly. A＇ perturbation approach is appropriate in the former case while in the latter the full nonlinearity must be taken into account. From this feature new physics is expected. Most experiments to date have been carried out in the regime of shallow lattice depth, for which the system is well described by the mean field Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a periodic potential. Moreover, the nonlinearity induced by the mean-field of the condensate has been shown, both theoretically and experimentally, to give rise to instabilities in certain regions of the Brillouin zone. These instabilities are not present in the corresponding linear system, i.e. the electron system. Experimental and theoretical results on the subject of nonlinear Landau-Zener tunneling and nonlinearity-induced instabilities in a Bose-Einstein condensate interacting with an external periodic potential will be presented.     

Controlled Manipulation with a Bose--Einstein Condensates N-Soliton Train under the Influence of Harmonic and Tilted Periodic Potentials

A model of the perturbed complex Toda chain （PCTC） to describe the dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate （BEC） N-soliton train trapped in an applied combined external potential consisting of both a weak harmonic and tilted periodic component is first developed. Using the developed theory, the BEC N-soliton train dynamics is shown to be well approximated by 4N coupled nonlinear differential equations, which describe the fundamental interactions in the system arising from the interplay of amplitude, velocity, centre-of-mass position, and phase. The simplified analytic theory allows for an efficient and convenient method for characterizing the BEC N-soliton train behaviour. It further gives the critical values of the strength of the potential for which one or more localized states can be extracted from a soliton train and demonstrates that the BEC N-soliton train can move selectively from one lattice site to another by simply manipulating the strength of the potential.     

Nonlinear resonance phenomenon of one-dimensional Bose–Einstein condensate under periodic modulation

We investigate the effect of an external periodic modulation on the one-dimensional （1D） Bose-Einstein conden- sate with harmonic trapping potential. By numerically solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with symplectic algorithm, the nonlinear resonance phenomenon is shown and the corresponding Fourier spectrum is given. The autoresonance phe- nomenon is also presented under almost periodic external modulation, and it shows that the condensate eventually evolves into quasi-periodic oscillation.     

Squeezing via coupling of Bose--Einstein condensates in a double-well potential with a cavity light field

Squeezing via the interaction between the cavity light field and the Bose Einstein Condensate （BEC） in a doublewell potential is considered within the context of the two-mode approximation. For the cavity light field initially in a coherent state, it is shown that by choosing appropriate parameters, quadrature squeezing of the cavity light field can be achieved and it exhibits periodic oscillation. We also study the case in which BEC is tuned to resonance by periodically modulating the trapping potentiaL and the quadrature squeezing of the cavity field exhibits periodic collapse and revival effect. Both analytic and numerical calculations are performed, and they are found to be in good agreement with each other. The result shows that the quantum statistical properties of the cavity light field can be manipulated by its coupling with the condensates in the double-well potential. On the other hand, dynamical properties of the condensates in the double-well potential will be reflected by the quadrature squeezing of the light field.     

Stochastic Resonance in a Single-Ion Nonlinear Mechanical Oscillator

Stochastic resonance is a counterintuitive phenomenon amplifying the weak periodic signal by application of external noise. We demonstrate the enhancement of a weak periodic signal by stochastic resonance in a trappedion oscillator when the oscillator is excited to the nonlinear regime and subject to an appropriate noise. Under the full control of the radio-frequency drive voltage, this amplification originates from the nonlinearity due to asymmetry of the trapping potential, which can be descri...     

Periodically modulated interaction effect on transport of Bose–Einstein condensates in lattice with local defects

We theoretically investigate the periodically modulated interaction effect on the propagation properties of a traveling plane wave in a Bose–Einstein condensate(BEC) trapped in a deep annular lattice with local defects both analytically and numerically. By using the two-mode ansatz and the tight-binding approximation, a critical condition for the system preserving the superfluidity is obtained analytically and confirmed numerically. We find that the coupled effects of periodic modulated atomic interactions, the quasi-momentum of the plane wave, and the defect can control the superfluidity of the system. Particularly, when we consider the periodic modulation in the system with single defect, the critical condition for the system entering the superfluid regime depends on both the defect and the momentum of the plane wave. This is different from the case for the system without the periodic modulation, where the critical condition is only determined by the defect. The modulation and quasi-momentum of the plane wave can enhance the system entering the superfluid regime. Interestingly, when the modulated amplitude/frequency, the defect strength, and the quasi-momentum of the plane wave satisfy a certain condition, the system will always be in the superfluid region. This engineering provides a possible means for studying the periodic modulation effect on propagation properties and the corresponding dynamics of BECs in disordered optical lattices.     

Simulating the time-dependent Ginzburg－Landau equations for type-II superconductors by finite-difference method

This article presents numerical solutions of the periodic time-dependent Ginzburg－Landau model for the type-II superconductors by a finite-difference approximation. Both the static and dynamical properties of a single vortex are studied as the external magnetic field varies. Vortex and anti-vortex can coexist and annihilate with time in the case of no external magnetic field, while the vortex will approach a steady state in the presence of magnetic field. We also study vortex dynamical behaviours while pinning centres exist in the sample and find that the pinning site, which has a significant potential to keep the vortex from moving, may trap the vortex.     

Nonreciprocal transmission of electromagnetic waves by three-layer magneto-optical mediums

We investigate the non-reciprocal transmission properties of a three-layer structure filled with magneto–optical medium and normal medium. Based on the transfer matrix method, we deduce the total transmission coefficient for a one-dimensional(1 D) structure with anisotropic mediums. When two-side layers with magneto–optical medium loaded in opposite external magnetic field, the time-reversal symmetry of transmission properties will be broken. Our numerical results show that the non-reciprocal transmission properties are influenced by external magnetic fields, incident angle, and thickness of the normal medium layer. Since the non-reciprocal properties can be easily realized and adjusted by the simple structure, such a design has potential applications in integrated circulators and isolators.     

Dynamics of an Ultracold Bose Gas in Funnel-Shaped Potential

In this paper we develop a variational theory to study the dynamic properties of ultracold Bose gas in a funnel external potential. We obtain one-dimensional nonlinear equation which describes the dynamics of transverse tight confined bosonic gas from three-dimension to one-dimension, and find one-dimensional s-wave scattering length which depends on the shape of transverse confining potential. If the funnel trapping potential is strong enough at zero temperature, all transverse excitations are frozen. We find the dynamic equation which describes the Tonks-Girardeau gas and present a qualitative analysis of the experimental accessibility of the Tonks Girardeau gas with funnel-trapped alkalic atoms.     

Evolution of spin-dependent atomic wave packets in a harmonic potential

We have investigated theoretically the evolution of spin-dependent atomic wave packets in a harmonic magnetic trapping potential. For a Bose-condensed gas, which undergoes a Mott insulator transition and a spin-dependent transport, the atomic wavefunction can be described by an entangled single-atom state. Due to the confinement of the harmonic potential, the density distributions exhibit periodic decay and revival, which is different from the case of free expansion after switching off the combined harmonic and optical lattice potential.     

Dynamical stability of dipolar condensate in a parametrically modulated one-dimensional optical lattice

We study the stabilization properties of dipolar Bose–Einstein condensate in a deep one-dimensional optical lattice with an additional external parametrically modulated harmonic trap potential. Through both analytical and numerical methods, we solve a dimensionless nonlocal nonlinear discrete Gross–Pitaevskii equation with both the short-range contact interaction and the long-range dipole–dipole interaction. It is shown that, the stability of dipolar condensate in modulated deep optical lattice can be controled by coupled effects of the contact interaction, the dipolar interaction and the external modulation. The system can be stabilized when the dipolar interaction, the contact interaction, the average strength of potential and the ratio of amplitude to frequency of the modulation satisfy a critical condition. In addition, the breather state, the diffused state and the attractive-interaction-induced-trapped state are predicted. The dipolar interaction and the external modulation of the lattice play important roles in stabilizing the condensate.     

Bloch oscillation and Landau\ben Zener tunnelling in a modulated optical lattice in a photovoltaic photorefractive crystal

We theoretically study the beam dynamical behaviour in a modulated optical lattice with a quadratic potential in a photovoltaic photorefractive crystal.We find that two different Bloch oscillation patterns appear for the excitation of both broad and narrow light beams.One kind of optical Landau–Zener tunnelling also appears upon the Bloch oscillation and can be controlled by adjusting the parameter of the optical lattice.Unlike the case of linear potential,the energy radiation due to Landau–Zener tunnelling can be confined in modulated lattices of this kind.For high input intensity levels,the Landau–Zener tunnelling is suppressed by the photovoltaic photorefractive nonlinearity and a symmetry breaking of beam propagation from the modulational instability appears.     

Laser-Manipulating Macroscopic Quantum States of a Bose-Einstein Condensate Held in a Kronig-Penny Potential

We investigate the boundary vaJue problem （BVP） of a quasi-one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation with the Kronig-Penney potential （KPP） of period d, which governs a repulsive Bose-Einstein condensate. Under the zero and periodic boundary conditions, we show how to determine n exact stationary eigenstates {Rn} corresponding to different chemical potentials {μn} from the known solutions of the system. The n-th eigenstate P~ is the Jacobian elliptic function with period 2din for n = 1,2,…, and with zero points containing the potential barrier positions. So Rn is differentiable at any spatial point and R2 describes n complete wave-packets in each period of the KPP. It is revealed that one can use a laser pulse modeled by a 5 potential at site xi to manipulate the transitions from the states of {Rn} with zero Point x≠xi to the states of {Rn＇} with zero Point x= Xi. The results suggest an experimental scheme for applying BEC to test the BVP and to observe the macroscopic quantum transitions.     

Unitary fermions and Lscher's formula on a crystal

We consider the low-energy particle-particle scattering properties in a periodic simple cubic crystal. In particular, we investigate the relation between the two-body scattering length and the energy shift experienced by the lowest-lying unbound state when this is placed in a periodic finite box. We introduce a continuum model for s-wave contact interactions that respects the symmetry of the Brillouin zone in its regularisation and renormalisation procedures, and corresponds to the nae continuum limit of the Hubbard model. The energy shifts are found to be identical to those obtained in the usual spherically symmetric renormalisation scheme upon resolving an important subtlety regarding the cutoff procedure. We then particularize to the Hubbard model, and find that for large finite lattices the results are identical to those obtained in the continuum limit. The results reported here are valid in the weak,intermediate and unitary limits. These may be used to significantly ease the extraction of scattering information, and therefore effective interactions in condensed matter systems in realistic periodic potentials. This can achieved via exact diagonalisation or Monte Carlo methods, without the need to solve challenging, genuine multichannel collisional problems with very restricted symmetry simplifications.     

The abnormal lattice contraction of plutonium hydrides studied by first-principles calculations

Pu can be loaded with H forming complicated continuous solid solutions and compounds,and causing remarkable electronic and structural changes.Full potential linearized augmented plane wave methods combined with Hubbard parameter U and the spin-orbit effects are employed to investigate the electronic and structural properties of stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric face-centered cubic Pu hydrides(PuHx,x=2,2.25,2.5,2.75,3).The decreasing trend with increasing x of the calculated lattice parameters is in reasonable agreement with the experimental findings.A comparative analysis of the electronic-structure results for a series of PuH x compositions reveals that the lattice contraction results from the associated effects of the enhanced chemical bonding and the size effects involving the interstitial atoms.We find that the size effects are the driving force for the abnormal lattice contraction.     

Effects of periodic optical lattice potential on dark solitons in a Bose Einstein condensate

This paper investigates the dynamics of dark solitons in a Bose--Einstein condensate with a magnetic trap and an optical lattice (OL) trap, and analyses the effects of the periodic OL potential on the dynamics by applying the variational approach based on the renormalized integrals of motion. The results show that the dark soliton becomes only a standing-wave and free propagation of the dark soliton is not possible when the periodic length of the OL potential is approximately equal to the effective width of the dark soliton. When the periodic length is very small or very large, the effects of the OL potential on the dark soliton will be sharply reduced. Finally, the numerical results confirm these theoretical findings.     

Lasing behaviour from the condensation of polaronic excitons in a ZnO nanowire

Atoms under optical and magnetic trapping in a limited space at a very low temperature can lead to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC),even in a one-dimensional (1D) optical lattice. However,can the confinment of dense excitons in a 1D semiconductor microstructure easily reach the excitonic BEC A lightly Mn(Ⅱ)-doped ZnO nanowire under a femtosecond laser pulse pump at room temperature produces single-mode lasing from coherent bipolaronic excitons,which is much like a macroscopic quantum state due to the condensation of the bipoaronic excitons if not real BEC. In this process,longitudinal biphonon binding with the exciton plays an important role. We revisit this system and propose possibility of bipolaronic exciton condensation. More studies are needed for this condensation phenomenon in 1D microcavity systems.     

Dark Soliton of Polariton Condensates under Nonresonant PT-Symmetric Pumping

A quantum system in complex potentials obeying parity-time(PT) symmetry could exhibit all real spectra,starting out in non-Hermitian quantum mechanics. The key physics behind a PT-symmetric system consists of the balanced gain and loss of the complex potential. We plan to include the nonequilibrium nature(i.e., the intrinsic kinds of gain and loss of a system) to a PT-symmetric many-body quantum system, with an emphasis on the combined effects of non-Hermitian due to nonequilibrium nature and PT symmetry in determining the properties of a system. To this end, we investigate the static and dynamical properties of a dark soliton of a polariton Bose–Einstein condensate under the PT-symmetric non-resonant pumping by solving the drivendissipative Gross–Pitaevskii equation both analytically and numerically. We derive the equation of motion for the center of mass of the dark soliton's center analytically with the help of the Hamiltonian approach. The resulting equation captures how the combination of the open-dissipative character and PT-symmetry affects the properties of the dark soliton; i.e., the soliton relaxes by blending with the background at a finite time. Further numerical solutions are in excellent agreement with the analytical results.     

Nonideal effects in quantum field-effect directional coupler

The nonideal effects in a quantum field-effect directional coupler where two quantum wires are coupled through a finite potential barrier are studied by adopting the lattice Green function method. The results show that the electron energy distribution, asymmetric geometry and finite temperature all have obvious influence on the electron transfer of the coupler. Only for the electrons with energies in a certain region, can the complete periodic transfer between two quantum wires take place. The conductance of these electrons as a function of the barrier length and potential height exhibits a fine periodic or quasi-periodic pattern. For the electrons with energies beyond the region, however, the complete periodic transfer does not hold any more since many irregular oscillations are superimposed on the conductance profile. In addition, the finite temperature and asymmetric geometry both can reduce the electron transfer efficiency.     

Controlling the motion of solitons in BEC by a weakly periodic potential

By developing multiple-scale method combined with Wentzel--Kramer--Brillouin expansion, this paper analytically studies the modulating effect of weakly periodic potential on the dynamical properties of the Bose--Einstein condensates (BEC) trapped in harmonic magnetic traps. A black--grey soliton transition is observed in the BEC trapped in harmonic magnetic potential, due to the weakly periodic potential modulating effect. Meanwhile, it finds that with the slight increase of the weakly periodic potential strength, the velocity of the soliton decreases, while its width firstly decreases then increases, a minimum exists there. These results show that the amplitude, velocity, and width of matter solitons can be effectively managed by means of a weakly periodic potential.