This thesis details the study of the dynamics of ultra cold gaseous atoms subjected to an amplitude modulated optical standing wave: the
Quantum Driven Pendulum (QDP). The atomic system exhibited both classical and quantum characteristics enabling us to study the transition between these very different dynamics. In particular, we were able to tune the system from a deep quantum regime, in which we observed quantum dynamical tunnelling for the first time, to one that was completely describable by classical dynamics. Experimental demonstration of the QDP and its dynamics illustrated that cold atoms form an ideal test bed which could be used to address some of the longstanding questions in the field of quantum chaos.
Many interesting phenomenon are now being observed in the field of atom optics, especially with the advent of the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). To incorporate the advantages of using coherent matter in our future experiments, the foundations for creation of a BEC were also constructed in this PhD
project. This involved new techniques in the fabrication of an atom chip capable of producing tight and deep magnetic traps.