Quantum bouncing ball on a lattice: An optical realization

Abstract

An optical realization of a quantum bouncing ball on a truncated lattice is theoretically proposed for light waves propagating near the edge of a circularly curved waveguide array. As compared to the analogous problem of matter waves bouncing on a perfectly reflecting surface under the influence of gravity, where the wave packets basically behave as classical particles, it is shown that the genuine quantum regimes of wave packet collapse and revival are accessible for the discrete optical system.