Rectifying fluctuations in an optical lattice

P. H. Jones, M. Goonasekera, F. Renzoni

Published 2005-12-21Version 1

We have realized a Brownian motor by using cold atoms in a dissipative optical lattice as a model system. In our experiment the optical potential is spatially symmetric and the time-symmetry of the system is broken by applying appropriate zero-mean ac forces. We identify a regime of rectification of forces and a regime of rectification of fluctuations, the latter corresponding to the realization of a Brownian motor.