Superfluid dynamics of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional optical superlattice

Abstract

We derive and study the Bloch and Bogoliubov spectrum of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) confined in a one-dimensional optical superlattice (created by interference between a primary optical lattice and a secondary optical lattice of small strength), using the Bogoliubov approximation and the hydrodynamic theory with mode coupling. We show that a BEC in an optical superlattice experiences two different tunnelling parameters and hence behaves like a diatomic chain. We derive expressions for the tunnelling parameters as a function of the strength of the primary and secondary lattice. This gives rise to a gapped branch in addition to the gapless acoustical branch in the Bogoliubov spectrum. The spectrum strongly depends on the strength of the secondary lattice, the interaction parameter and the number density of atoms. The effective mass is found to increase as the depth of the secondary optical lattice increases, a property that was utilized in Paraedes et al (2004 Nature 429 277) to achieve the Tonks–Girardeau regime. The coupling between the inhomogeneous density in the radial plane and the density modulation along the optical lattice gives rise to a multibranch Bogoliubov spectrum.