Coupled Two-Dimensional Atomic Oscillation in an Anharmonic Trap

In atomic dynamics, oscillation along different axes can be studied separately in the harmonic trap. When the trap is not harmonic, motion in different directions may couple together. In this work, we observe a two-dimensional oscillation by exciting atoms in one direction, where the atoms are transferred to an anharmonic region. Theoretical calculations are coincident to the experimental results. These oscillations in two dimensions not only can be used to measure trap parameters but also have potential applications in atomic interferometry and precise measurements.