Time-dependent harmonic potentials for momentum or position scaling

Open Access

Time-dependent harmonic potentials for momentum or position scaling

J. G. Muga, S. Martínez-Garaot, M. Pons, M. Palmero, and A. Tobalina

Phys. Rev. Research 2, 043162 – Published 30 October 2020

Abstract

Cooling methods and particle slowers as well as accelerators are basic tools for fundamental research and applications in different fields and systems. We put forward a generic mechanism to scale the momentum of a particle, regardless of its initial position and momentum, by means of a transient harmonic potential. The design of the time-dependent frequency makes use of a linear invariant and inverse techniques drawn from “shortcuts to adiabaticity.” The timing of the process may be decided beforehand, and its influence on the system evolution and final features is analyzed. We address quantum systems, but the protocols found are also valid for classical particles. Similar processes are possible as well for position scaling.

Received 20 July 2020
Accepted 7 September 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.043162

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Cooling & trapping Quantum control

General PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & OpticalAccelerators & Beams

Authors & Affiliations

J. G. Muga ¹, S. Martínez-Garaot ¹, M. Pons², M. Palmero ², and A. Tobalina¹

¹Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
²Department of Applied Physics I, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 48013 Bilbao, Spain