We report an experimental method to create optical lattices with real-time control of their periodicity. We demonstrate a continuous change of the lattice periodicity from 0.96 $\mu$m to 11.2 $\mu$m in one second, while the center fringe only moves less than 2.7 $\mu$m during the whole process. This provides a powerful tool for controlling ultracold atoms in optical lattices, where small spacing is essential for quantum tunneling, and large spacing enables single-site manipulation and spatially resolved detection. Published in: Opt. Express 16, 5465-5470 (2008)
CITATION STYLE
Li, T. C., Kelkar, H., Medellin, D., & Raizen, M. G. (2008). Real-time control of the periodicity of a standing wave: an optical accordion. Optics Express, 16(8), 5465. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.16.005465
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