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Observation of two-dimensional Anderson localisation of ultracold atoms

Author

Listed:
  • Donald H. White

    (University of Auckland
    Waseda University)

  • Thomas A. Haase

    (University of Auckland)

  • Dylan J. Brown

    (University of Auckland
    Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Tancha)

  • Maarten D. Hoogerland

    (University of Auckland)

  • Mojdeh S. Najafabadi

    (University of Auckland
    University of Otago)

  • John L. Helm

    (University of Auckland
    University of Otago)

  • Christopher Gies

    (Universität Bremen)

  • Daniel Schumayer

    (University of Auckland
    University of Otago)

  • David A. W. Hutchinson

    (University of Auckland
    University of Otago)

Abstract

Anderson localisation —the inhibition of wave propagation in disordered media— is a surprising interference phenomenon which is particularly intriguing in two-dimensional (2D) systems. While an ideal, non-interacting 2D system of infinite size is always localised, the localisation length-scale may be too large to be unambiguously observed in an experiment. In this sense, 2D is a marginal dimension between one-dimension, where all states are strongly localised, and three-dimensions, where a well-defined phase transition between localisation and delocalisation exists as the energy is increased. Here, we report the results of an experiment measuring the 2D transport of ultracold atoms between two reservoirs, which are connected by a channel containing pointlike disorder. The design overcomes many of the technical challenges that have hampered observation of localisation in previous works. We experimentally observe exponential localisation in a 2D ultracold atom system.

Suggested Citation

  • Donald H. White & Thomas A. Haase & Dylan J. Brown & Maarten D. Hoogerland & Mojdeh S. Najafabadi & John L. Helm & Christopher Gies & Daniel Schumayer & David A. W. Hutchinson, 2020. "Observation of two-dimensional Anderson localisation of ultracold atoms," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18652-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18652-w
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