Timing noise effects on dynamical localization

The quantum kicked rotor is studied experimentally in an atom-optics setting, where we observe the center-of-mass motion of cold cesium atoms. Dynamical localization in this system typically suppresses classical diffusive motion, but is susceptible to the addition of various forms of noise. We study in detail the effects of timing noise, where variations are introduced to the times at which the kicks occur. This noise is particularly interesting because it does not directly induce momentum diffusion. However, it is found that the addition of timing noise efficiently destroys both the classical correlations that give rise to fluctuations in the classical diffusion rate as well as quantum coherences that lead to dynamical localization.