Quantum ratchet driven by broadband perturbation

Abstract

Motion of an atomic ensemble trapped into a deep optical lattice is considered. We propose a novel approach to construct an atomic ratchet by superimposing two additional lattices whose amplitudes are small and subjected to broadband modulation. The broadband modulation is modeled by means of harmonic noise. Directed atomic transport occurs with the properly chosen phase shift between the signals modulating the amplitudes of the additional lattices. It is shown that efficiency of the ratchet depends non-monotonously on the parameter determining the spectral width of modulating signals.