Reversal of spin dynamics in an antiferromagnetic F=1 spinor Bose-Einstein condensate

ORAL

Abstract

The antiferromagnetic F=1 sodium spinor Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) exhibits coherent population oscillations of the magnetic sublevels that are internally driven by spin-exchange collisions. Here, we experimentally demonstrate reversals of the collisional dynamics. The reversals are controlled with microwave pulses. We observe nearly complete reversals even after a significant amount of population oscillation has already occurred. In addition, and somewhat surprisingly, we can generate partial reversals in the cold, non-condensed normal gas. We explain our results with numerical calculations based on the truncated Wigner approximation and an analytical theory based on the Bogoliubov approximation. In the future, this type of microwave control of collisional dynamics will allow us to implement matter-wave analogs of devices known from quantum optics with photons, such as a phase-sensitive matter-wave amplifier.

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Authors

  • Arne Schwettmann

    Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland

  • Gil Summy

    Oklahoma State Univ, Oklahoma State University

  • Hyewon Pechkis

    Bryn Mawr College

  • Jonathan Wrubel

    Creighton University

  • Ryan Barnett

    Imperial College London

  • Ryan Wilson

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Joint Quantum Institute and University of Maryland, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA, NIST, JQI, and University of Maryland, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland

  • Eite Tiesinga

    Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and University of Maryland, JQI, NIST and University of Maryland, NIST, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland

  • Paul Lett

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Quantum Measurement Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and UMD, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA, Joint Quantum Institute, NIST and the University of Maryland