Experimental evidence for the role of cantori as barriers in a quantum system

K. Vant, G. Ball, H. Ammann, N. Christensen
1999 Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics  
We investigate the effect of cantori on momentum diffusion in a quantum system. Ultracold caesium atoms are subjected to a specifically designed periodically pulsed standing wave. A cantorus separates two chaotic regions of the classical phase space. Diffusion through the cantorus is classically predicted. Quantum diffusion is only significant when the classical phase-space area escaping through the cantorus per period greatly exceeds Planck's constant. Experimental data and a quantum analysis confirm that the cantori act as barriers.
doi:10.1103/physreve.59.2846 fatcat:ertu477acrb73fwrzg7mvqyaxi