Chaotic dynamics and fractal structures in experiments with cold atoms

Abstract: We use tools from nonlinear dynamics to the detailed analysis of cold atom experiments. A powerful example is provided by the recent concept of basin entropy which allows to quantify the final state unpredictability that results from the complexity of the phase space geometry. We show here that this enables one to reliably infer the presence of fractal structures in phase space from direct measurements. We illustrate the method with numerical simulations in an experimental configuration made of two crossing laser guides that can be used as a matter wave splitter.