Microscopic and mean-field dynamics of cold atoms in optical lattices

Abstract

The Bloch dynamics of degenerate cold atoms in optical lattices is a paradigmatic problem of quantum transport theory, arid under virtually perfect experimental control. If a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is loaded into truly 1D lattices, and for sufficiently small filling factors, the problem can be treated within the Bose-Hubbard model. The nonlinearity can stabilise the BEC against dispersion whilst moving across the lattice, giving rise to soliton-like solutions