Abstract
We realize experimentally an atom-optics quantum-chaotic system, the quasiperiodic kicked rotor, which is equivalent to a 3D disordered system that allows us to demonstrate the Anderson metal-insulator transition. Sensitive measurements of the atomic wave function and the use of finite-size scaling techniques make it possible to extract both the critical parameters and the critical exponent of the transition, the latter being in good agreement with the value obtained in numerical simulations of the 3D Anderson model.
- Received 11 July 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.255702
©2008 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Finding some sense in disorder
Published 15 December 2008
Disorder in a crystal tends to localize electrons and drive a transition from a metallic to an insulating state. The same localization can occur in cold atom gasses in a periodic optical trap, but since the trap is tunable it may be possible to explore this effect in multiple dimensions.
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