Beyond mean-field dynamics in open Bose-Hubbard chains

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate the effects of phase noise and particle loss on the dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical lattice. Starting from the many-body master equation, we discuss the applicability of generalized mean-field approximations in the presence of dissipation and methods to simulate quantum effects beyond mean-field by including higher-order correlation functions. It is shown that localized particle dissipation leads to surprising dynamics, as it can suppress decay and restore the coherence of a Bose-Einstein condensate. These effects can be applied to engineer coherent structures such as stable discrete breathers and dark solitons.

Authors

  • Holger Hennig

    Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), Goettingen, Germany and Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge (USA)

  • Dirk Witthaut

    MPIDS, Goettingen, Germany

  • Friederike Trimborn

    Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Hannover, Germany

  • Georgios Kordas

    Institute for Theoretical Physics and Center for Quantum Dynamics, University of Heidelberg, Germany

  • Theo Geisel

    MPIDS, Goettingen, Germany

  • Sandro Wimberger

    Institute for Theoretical Physics and Center for Quantum Dynamics, University of Heidelberg, Germany