Experimental realization of quantum-resonance ratchets at arbitrary quasimomenta

Quantum-resonance ratchets associated with the kicked particle are experimentally realized for arbitrary quasimomentum using a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) exposed to a pulsed standing light wave. The ratchet effect for general quasimomentum arises even though both the standing-wave potential and the initial state of the BEC have a point symmetry. The experimental results agree well with theoretical ones which take into account the finite quasimomentum width of the BEC. In particular, this width is shown to cause a suppression of the ratchet acceleration for exactly resonant quasimomentum, leading to a saturation of the directed current.