Feedback stabilization of atoms in an optical lattice

The feasibility of using feedback for stabilization of atoms in an off-resonance optical lattice is demonstrated. In the proposed scheme, the collective coordinate of atoms is measured and instantaneously compensated for via a spatial shift of the potential of the optical lattice. An external action that provides for heating of atoms with subsequent decrease in their lifetime in the lattice is simulated by a set of independent reservoirs, each interacting only with one atom. A quantum-mechanical analysis of the problem shows that the use of the feedback within the proposed scheme makes it possible to stabilize the energy of atoms at a level below the equilibrium energy.