Dynamical trapping through harmonic breathing

Abstract: A new strategy for trapping quantum particles is presented, which behaves like an effective harmonic oscillator potential trap wherever is desired. The approach is based on harmonic contraction and expansion of the system around a fixed point (trapping point) at high frequencies. Analytical results are presented for an arbitrary potential and contrasted with numerical calculations for a quantum particle between two impenetrable walls. Similarly, making use of the analogy between quantum mechanics and optics, it is shown that an harmonically breathing waveguide lattice can be used to trap optical beams using frequencies of the order of the coupling constant without needing to resort to nonlinear dielectric terms.