Limit cycles and chaos in the hybrid atom-optomechanics system

We consider atoms in two different periodic potentials induced by different lasers, one of which is coupled to a mechanical membrane via radiation pressure force. The atoms are intrinsically two-level systems that can absorb or emit photons, but the dynamics of their position and momentum are treated classically. On the other hand, the membrane, the cavity field, and the intrinsic two-level atoms are treated quantum mechanically. We show that the mean excitation of the three systems can be stable, periodically oscillating, or in a chaotic state depending on the strength of the coupling between them. We define regular, limit cycle, and chaotic phases, and present a phase diagram where the three phases can be achieved by manipulating the field-membrane and field-atom coupling strengths. We also computed other observable quantities that can reflect the system's phase such as position, momentum, and correlation functions. Our proposal offers a new way to generate and tune the limit cycle and chaotic phases in a well-established atom-optomechanics system.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigate atoms in two periodic potentials induced by different lasers, one of which is coupled to a mechanical membrane via radiation pressure force. The dynamics of the atoms' position and momentum are treated classically, while the membrane, the cavity field, and the intrinsic two-level atoms are treated quantum mechanically. We find that the mean excitation of the three systems can be stable, periodically oscillating, or in a chaotic state depending on the strength of the coupling between them. We define regular, limit cycle, and chaotic phases and demonstrate how to achieve these phases by manipulating the field-membrane and field-atom coupling strengths. Additionally, we compute observable quantities such as position, momentum, and correlation functions that reflect the system's phase. Our proposal presents a new approach to generate and control limit cycle and chaotic phases in a well-established atom-optomechanics system.