A Quantum Top Inside a Bose Josephson Junction

Abstract

We consider an atomic quantum dot confined between two weakly-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates, where the dot serves as an additional tunneling channel. It is shown that the thus-embedded atomic quantum dot is a pseudospin subject to an external torque, and therefore equivalent to a quantum top. We demonstrate by numerical analysis of the time-dependent coupled evolution equations that this microscopic quantum top is very sensitive to any deviation from linear oscillatory behavior of the condensates. For sufficiently strong dot-condensate coupling, the atomic quantum dot can induce or modify the tunneling between the macroscopic condensates in the two wells.