The simplest model in quantum optics deals with a single two-level atom interacting with a single mode of the radiation field. This ideal situation is implemented in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics experiments, using high quality microwave or optical cavities as photon boxes. It provides a test bench for fundamental quantum processes and a promising ground for quantum information processing.

We present a new experimental system (the “atom-optics billiard”) and demonstrate chaotic and regular dynamics of cold, optically trapped atoms. We show that the softness of the walls and additional optical potentials can be used to manipulate the structure of phase space.

We study possible scenarios for quantum non-demolition measurements using Bose-Einstein condensates. We show that the interactions between condensate atoms makes it possible to measure the atom number with minimal back action on the system. This is an example of atomic nonlinear optics that has significant implications in the quantum state preparation of the Bose condensates. Typeset using REVT...

In Rydberg atoms, at least one electron is excited to a state with a high principal quantum number. In an ultracold environment, this low-energy electron can scatter off a ground state atom allowing for the formation of a Rydberg molecule consisting of one Rydberg atom and several ground state atoms. Here we investigate those Rydberg molecules created by photoassociation for the spherically sym...

In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that can generate two-atom maximally entangled states from pure product states and mixed states using linear optics. Because the scheme can generate pure maximally entangled states from mixed states, we denote it as purification-like generation scheme. PACS number(s): 03.67.-a, 03.67.Hk, 03.65.Ud

We discuss the theoretical description and numerical simulation of the effect of noise and environmental coupling on the momentum distribution of the quantum δ-kicked rotor in recent atom optics experiments. We investigate the transition between exponentially localized and more nearly Gaussian momentum distributions and compare our simulations with existing experimental results.

Ray-Kuang Lee, Yinchieh Lai, and Yuri S. Kivshar Nonlinear Physics Centre and ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Department of Photonics and Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Chiao-Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan sReceived 27 December 2004;...

Quantum tunnelling from a tilted, but otherwise periodic potential is studied. Our theoretical and experimental results show that, by controlling the system’s parameters, we can engineer the escape rate of a Bose-Einstein condensate to an exceptional degree. Possible applications of this atom-optics realization of the open Wannier-Stark system are discussed.

T. M. Wright,1,2 P. B. Blakie,1 and R. J. Ballagh1 1Jack Dodd Centre for Quantum Technology, Department of Physics, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand 2ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia (Received 26 December 2009; revised manuscript received 10 May 2010; publishe...

Tristram J. Alexander, Mario Salerno, Elena A. Ostrovskaya, and Yuri S. Kivshar Nonlinear Physics Center and ARC Center of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia Dipartimento di Fisica, “E.R. Cainiello” Università di Salerno, I-84081 Baronissi (SA), Italy Received 16 November 2007; pu...