2010/10/31 by Thomas Betz, Stephanie Manz, Robert Bücker +8 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.quant-gas
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.106.020407
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 020407 (2011)
arxiv created 2011/03/29 · arxiv updated 2011/03/30
We realize a one-dimensional Josephson junction using quantum degenerate Bose gases in a tunable double well potential on an atom chip. Matter wave interferometry gives direct access to the relative phase field, which reflects the interplay of thermally driven fluctuations and phase locking due to tunneling. The thermal equilibrium state is characterized by probing the full statistical distribution function of the two-point phase correlation. Comparison to a stochastic model allows to measure the coupling strength and temperature and hence a full characterization of the system.