Quantum Carpets: a Probe to Identify Wave-Packet Fractional Revivals

Abstract

We explain quantum carpets in the position and momentum spaces woven by the self-interference of the de Broglie wave of an atom or an electron trapped in an infinitely deep potential well. The recurrence of self-similar structures in designs of these carpets mimics the phenomena of quantum revivals and fractional revivals. We identify fractional revivals of various order by means of these space–time and momentum–time interference patterns.