Laurent Sanchez-Palencia

Anderson Localization of Expanding Bose-Einstein Condensates in Random Potentials

We show that the expansion of an initially confined interacting 1D Bose-Einstein condensate can exhibit Anderson localization in a weak random potential with correlation length sigma(R). For speckle potentials the Fourier transform of the correlation function vanishes for momenta k>2/sigma(R) so that the Lyapunov exponent vanishes in the Born approximation for k>1/sigma(R). Then, for the initial healing length of the condensate xi(in)>sigma(R) the localization is exponential, and for xi(in)

Ultracold Bose Gases in 1D Disorder: From Lifshits Glass to Bose-Einstein Condensate

We study an ultracold Bose gas in the presence of 1D disorder for repulsive interatomic interactions varying from zero to the Thomas-Fermi regime. We show that for weak interactions the Bose gas populates a finite number of localized single-particle Lifshits states, while for strong interactions a delocalized disordered Bose-Einstein condensate is formed. We discuss the schematic quantum-state diagram and derive the equations of state for various regimes.

Anderson localization of bogolyubov quasiparticles in interacting bose-einstein condensates

We study the Anderson localization of Bogolyubov quasiparticles in an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (with a healing [corrected] length xi) subjected to a random potential (with a finite correlation length sigma(R)). We derive analytically the Lyapunov exponent as a function of the quasiparticle momentum k, and we study the localization maximum k(max). For 1D speckle potentials, we find that k(max) proportional variant 1/xi when xi>>sigma(R) while k(max) proportional variant 1/sigma(R) when xi<<sigma(R), and that the localization is strongest when xi approximately sigma(R). Numerical calculations support our analysis, and our estimates indicate that the localization of the Bogolyubov quasiparticles is accessible in experiments with ultracold atoms.

Disorder versus the Mermin-Wagner-Hohenberg effect: From classical spin systems to ultracold atomic gases

We propose a general mechanism of random-field-induced order RFIO, in which long-range order is induced by a random field that breaks the continuous symmetry of the model. We particularly focus on the case of the classical ferromagnetic XY model on a two-dimensional lattice, in a uniaxial random field. We prove rigorously that the system has spontaneous magnetization at temperature T=0, and we present strong evidence that this is also the case for small T0. We discuss generalizations of this mechanism to various classical and quantum systems. In addition, we propose possible realizations of the RFIO mechanism, using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. Our results shed new light on controversies in existing literature, and open a way to realize RFIO with ultracold atomic systems.

Smoothing effect and delocalization of interacting Bose-Einstein condensates in random potentials

We theoretically investigate the physics of interacting Bose-Einstein condensates at equilibrium in a weak (possibly random) potential. We develop a perturbation approach to derive the condensate wave function for an amplitude of the potential smaller than the chemical potential of the condensate and for an arbitrary spatial variation scale of the potential. Applying this theory to disordered potentials, we find in particular that, if the healing length is smaller than the correlation length of the disorder, the condensate assumes a delocalized Thomas-Fermi profile. In the opposite situation where the correlation length is smaller than the healing length, we show that the random potential can be significantly smoothed and, in the mean-field regime, the condensate wave function can remain delocalized, even for very small correlation lengths of the disorder.

Matter wave transport and Anderson localization in anisotropic three-dimensional disorder

We study quantum transport in anisotropic 3D disorder and show that non rotation invariant correlations can induce rich diffusion and localization properties. For instance, structured finite-range correlations can lead to the inversion of the transport anisotropy. Moreover, working beyond the self-consistent theory of localization, we include the disorder-induced shift of the energy states and show that it strongly affects the mobility edge. Implications to recent experiments are discussed.

Protected quasi-locality in quantum systems with long-range interactions

We study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of quantum systems with long-range interactions. Two different models describing, respectively, lattice bosons, and spins are considered. Our study is based on a combined approach based, on one hand, on accurate many-body numerical calculations and, on the other hand, on a quasi-particle microscopic theory. For sufficiently fast decaying long-range potentials, we find that the quantum speed limit set by the long-range Lieb-Robinson bounds is never attained and a purely ballistic behavior is found. For slowly decaying potentials, a radically different scenario is observed. In the bosonic case, a remarkable local spreading of correlations is still observed, despite the existence of infinitely fast traveling excitations in the system. This is in marked contrast with the spin case, where locality is broken. We finally provide a microscopic justification of the different regimes observed and of the origin of the protected locality in bosonic models.

Spreading of correlations in exactly solvable quantum models with long-range interactions in arbitrary dimensions

We study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics induced by quantum quenches in quadratic Hamiltonians featuring both short- and long-range interactions. The spreading of correlations in the presence of algebraic decaying interactions,

Two-component Bose gases with one-body and two-body couplings

1/R^alpha

Universal superfluid transition and transport properties of two-dimensional dirty bosons

, is studied for lattice Bose models in arbitrary dimension