Study of surface potentials using resonant tunneling of cold atoms in optical lattices

Abstract

We study a feasibility of precision measurements of surface potentials at micrometer distances using resonant tunneling of cold atoms trapped in vertical optical lattices. A modulation of an amplitude of the lattice potential induces atomic tunneling among the lattice sites. The resonant modulation frequency corresponds to a difference of potential energy between latices sites which is defined by external force i.e. gravity. The vicinity of the surface alters the external potentials, and hence the resonant frequency. Application of this method allows accurate study of Casimir-type potentials and improvement of the present experimental validity of the Newtonian gravitational potential at the distance range of 5 - 30 micrometers.