Bose−Einstein condensates with tunable spin−orbit coupling in the two-dimensional harmonic potential: The ground-state phases,stability phase diagram and collapse dynamics

We study the ground-state phases, the stability phase diagram and collapse dynamics of Bose−Einstein condensates (BECs) with tunable spin−orbit (SO) coupling in the two-dimensional harmonic potential by variational analysis and numerical simulation. Here we propose the theory that the collapse stability and collapse dynamics of BECs in the external trapping potential can be manipulated by the periodic driving of Raman coupling (RC), which can be realized experimentally. Through the high-frequency approximation, an effective time-independent Floquet Hamiltonian with two-body interaction in the harmonic potential is obtained, which results in a tunable SO coupling and a new effective two-body interaction that can be manipulated by the periodic driving strength. Using the variational method, the phase transition boundary and collapse boundary of the system are obtained analytically, where the phase transition between the spin-nonpolarized phase with zero momentum (zero momentum phase) and spin-polarized phase with non-zero momentum (plane wave phase) can be manipulated by the external driving and sensitive to the strong external trapping potential. Particularly, it is revealed that the collapsed BECs can be stabilized by periodic driving of RC, and the mechanism of collapse stability manipulated by periodic driving of RC is clearly revealed. In addition, we find that the collapse velocity and collapse time of the system can be manipulated by periodic driving strength, which also depends on the RC, SO coupling strength and external trapping potential. Finally, the variational approximation is confirmed by numerical simulation of Gross−Pitaevskii equation. Our results show that the periodic driving of RC provides a platform for manipulating the ground-state phases, collapse stability and collapse dynamics of the SO coupled BECs in an external harmonic potential, which can be realized easily in current experiments.     

Probing two Higgs oscillations in a one-dimensional Fermi superfluid with Raman-type spin–orbit coupling

We theoretically investigate the Higgs oscillation in a one-dimensional Raman-type spin–orbit-coupled Fermi superfluid with the time-dependent Bogoliubov–de Gennes equations. By linearly ramping or abruptly changing the effective Zeeman field in both the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer state and the topological superfluid state, we find the amplitude of the order parameter exhibits an oscillating behaviour over time with two different frequencies (i.e., two Higgs oscillations) in contrast to the single one in a conventional Fermi superfluid. The observed period of oscillations has a great agreement with the one calculated using the previous prediction [Volkov and Kogan, J. Exp. Theor. Phys. 38, 1018 (1974)], where the oscillating periods are now determined by the minimums of two quasi-particle spectrum in this system. We further verify the existence of two Higgs oscillations using a periodic ramp strategy with theoretically calculated driving frequency. Our predictions would be useful for further theoretical and experimental studies of these Higgs oscillations in spin–orbit-coupled systems.     

A computational investigation of topological insulator Bi2Se3 film

Topological insulators have a bulk band gap like an ordinary insulator and conducting states on their edge or surface which are formed by spin–orbit coupling and protected by time-reversal symmetry. We report theoretical analyses of the electronic properties of three-dimensional topological insulator Bi₂Se₃ film on different energies. We choose five different energies (–123, –75, 0, 180, 350 meV) around the Dirac cone (–113 meV). When energy is close to the Dirac cone, the properties of wave function match the topological insulator’s hallmark perfectly. When energy is far way from the Dirac cone, the hallmark of topological insulator is broken and the helical states disappear. The electronic properties of helical states are dug out from the calculation results. The spin-momentum locking of the helical states are confirmed. A 3-fold symmetry of the helical states in Brillouin zone is also revealed. The penetration depth of the helical states is two quintuple layers which can be identified from layer projection. The charge contribution on each quintuple layer depends on the energy, and has completely different behavior along K and M direction in Brillouin zone. From orbital projection, we can find that the maximum charge contribution of the helical states is p_z orbit and the charge contribution on p_yand p_x orbits have 2-fold symmetry.     

超冷极性分子

目前对超冷原子的研究已经从最初的原子分子物理扩展到了物理的很多分支.极性分子可以将电偶极相互作用引入到超冷体系,同时分子又与原子类似,可以灵活地被光和其他电磁场操控,因而很多理论工作都预言了超冷极性分子在超冷化学、量子模拟和量子信息等领域会有重要的应用.但由于超冷基态分子的制备非常困难,如何把超冷物理从原子发展到分子还是一个方兴未艾的课题.过去的10年间,各种分子冷却技术都取得了很大突破,本文回顾了这些进展,并着重介绍了基于异核冷原子的磁缔合结合受激拉曼转移这一技术,该技术在制备高密度的基态碱金属超冷极性分子上取得了较大的成功.本文也总结了超冷极性碱金属分子基本碰撞特性研究的一些实验结果.     

量子显自极寒来——冷原子研究漫谈

冷原子体系的量子波动性、宏观量子相干性和人工可调控性,使其成为了一个全新的量子体系,其新颖的量子态和奇异物性的研究是国际上具有前瞻性和挑战性的前沿领域。自1995年实现稀薄气体玻色—爱因斯坦凝聚以来,从单组分、简单相互作用的研究逐渐过渡到多组分、复杂多体效应以及自旋—轨道耦合、非厄米、强关联、无序效应等新物理的研究。文章介绍了近几年冷原子方面的研究进展,包括冷原子的相关技术、冷原子在量子精密测量、量子模拟和量子计算方面的重要工作,期望给未来的研究以新启迪。     

耦合三能级原子与光场相互作用中系统的动力学行为

讨论了包含两个全同的三能级原子之间偶极矩相互作用的Jaynes-Cummings模型，并就Λ，Ξ和V三种能级构型建立了系统的动力学方程，特别在能级简并情况下讨论了具有Λ型能级的两个原子之间偶极相互作用及原子的初态和系统的失谐量对光场的统计性质和原子行为的影响。     

耦合原子与腔场多光子相互作用过程中的量子信息传递

建立了"多耦合原子--腔"系统的多光子相互作用模型. 利用腔量子电动力学理论, 研究了原子与腔场相互作用过程中量子信息传递的特性, 分析了原子间耦合作用对量子信息传递的影响. 结果表明: 在一定的相互作用时间内, 量子信息可以在腔场与原子间可逆传递或保持, 原子间的偶极作用导致量子纠缠信息非完全传递和非完全保持.     

Estimating ground-state properties of quantum dot arrays using a local Thomas-Fermi-Dirac approximation

An exactly solvable local Thomas-Fermi-Dirac approximation is applied to the calculation of the ground-state density of three-dimensional quantum dot arrays, where we give estimates to properties like total energy, chemical potential, and differential capacitance. Numeric examples are calculated for pairs of quantum dots using a Gaussian confining potential. The computational complexity of the present method is linear in the number of electrons and centers of the system.     

Transport and thermodynamic properties of a 2DEG in the presence of tilted magnetic field: the influence of Rashba interaction

The effects of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on the physical properties of a non-interacting two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in presence of a tilted magnetic field are investigated. The spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions depend on the intensity and direction of the external magnetic field and we study their influence on the physical properties of the system. We obtain the energy spectrum, the density of states, the Fermi energy, and we analyze the combined effect of the Zeeman and Rashba Spin-Orbit Interaction on the transport and thermodynamic properties.     

Electron energy state spin-splitting in 3D cylindrical semiconductor quantum dots

In this article we study the impact of the spin-orbit interaction on the electron quantum confinement for narrow gap semiconductor quantum dots. The model formulation includes: (1) the effective one-band Hamiltonian approximation; (2) the position- and energy-dependent quasi-particle effective mass approximation; (3) the finite hard wall confinement potential; and (4) the spin-dependent Ben Daniel-Duke boundary conditions. The Hartree-Fock approximation is also utilized for evaluating the characteristics of a two-electron quantum dot system. In our calculation, we describe the spin-orbit interaction which comes from both the spin-dependent boundary conditions and the Rashba term (for two-electron quantum dot system). It can significantly modify the electron energy spectrum for InAs semiconductor quantum dots built in the GaAs matrix. The energy state spin-splitting is strongly dependent on the dot size and reaches an experimentally measurable magnitude for relatively small dots. In addition, we have found the Coulomb interaction and the spin-splitting are suppressed in quantum dots with small height. Received 15 May 2001 / Received in final form 14 May 2002 Published online 13 August 2002