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Experimental evidence for non-exponential decay in quantum tunnelling

Author

Listed:
  • Steven R. Wilkinson

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Cyrus F. Bharucha

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Martin C. Fischer

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Kirk W. Madison

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Patrick R. Morrow

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Qian Niu

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Bala Sundaram

    (CSI-CUNY)

  • Mark G. Raizen

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

Abstract

An exponential decay law is the universal hallmark of unstable systems and is observed in all fields of science. This law is not, however, fully consistent with quantum mechanics and deviations from exponential decay have been predicted for short as well as long times1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Such deviations have not hitherto been observed experimentally. Here we present experimental evidence for short-time deviation from exponential decay in a quantum tunnelling experiment. Our system consists of ultra-cold sodium atoms that are trapped in an accelerating periodic optical potential created by a standing wave of light. Atoms can escape the wells by quantum tunnelling, and the number that remain can be measured as a function of interaction time for a fixed value of the well depth and acceleration. We observe that for short times the survival probability is initially constant before developing the characteristics of exponential decay. The conceptual simplicity of the experiment enables a detailed comparison with theoretical predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven R. Wilkinson & Cyrus F. Bharucha & Martin C. Fischer & Kirk W. Madison & Patrick R. Morrow & Qian Niu & Bala Sundaram & Mark G. Raizen, 1997. "Experimental evidence for non-exponential decay in quantum tunnelling," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6633), pages 575-577, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:387:y:1997:i:6633:d:10.1038_42418
    DOI: 10.1038/42418
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Wen & Hei, Xindong & Sun, Hongguang & Hu, Dongliang, 2018. "Stretched exponential stability of nonlinear Hausdorff dynamical systems," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 259-264.
    2. Midya Parto & Christian Leefmans & James Williams & Franco Nori & Alireza Marandi, 2023. "Non-Abelian effects in dissipative photonic topological lattices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.

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