Abstract
We depict and analyse a new effect for wave packets falling freely under a barrier or well. The effect appears for wave packets whose initial spread is smaller than the combination lg3/|z0|, between the gravitational length scale lg = (ℏ2c 2/2m2g)1/3 and the initial location of the packet z0. It consists of a diffractive structure that is generated by the falling and spreading wave packet and the waves reflected from the obstacle. The effect is enhanced when the Gross-Pitaevskii interaction for positive scattering length is included. The theoretical analysis reproduces the essential features of the effect. Experiments emanating from the findings are proposed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9829-9841 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 46 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 22 Nov 2002 |