Quantum Optics of Ultracold Molecular Fields

We apply concepts of quantum optical coherence to characterize the coherent generation of a molecular field from a quantum-degenerate atomic sample, and discuss the impact of the quantum statistics of the atoms on that field. For atoms initially in a BEC the resulting molecular field is to a good approximation coherent. This is in sharp contrast to the case of atoms in a normal Fermi gas, where we can made use of an analogy with the Tavis-Cummings model to show that the statistics of the resulting molecular field is similar to that of a single-mode chaotic light field. The BCS case interpolates between the two extremes, with an ＇incoherent＇ contribution from unpaired atoms superposed to a ＇coherent＇ contribution from atomic Cooper pairs. We also comment on the temporal fluctuations characteristic of the formation of molecular dimers from ultracold fermionic atoms.     

光晶格中超冷原子系统的磁激发

囚禁在光学晶格中的旋量凝聚体由于其长的相干性和可调控性,使其成为时下热点的多比特量子计算的潜在候选载体,清楚地了解该体系的自旋和磁性的产生和调控就显得尤为重要.本文主要从理论上回顾了光晶格原子自旋链的磁性的由来和操控手段.从激光冷却原子出发,制备旋量玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体,并装载进光晶格,最后实现原子自旋链,对整个过程的理论研究进行了综述;就如何产生和操控自旋激发进行了详细探讨,其中包括磁孤子的制备;讨论了如何将原子自旋链应用于量子模拟.对光学晶格中的磁激发研究将会对其在冷原子物理、凝聚态物理、量子信息等各方向的应用起指导性作用.     

内腔多原子直接俘获的强耦合腔量子力学系统的构建

腔内中性原子的长时间控制与俘获一直是腔量子电动力学(QED)中的一个难题,极大地制约了人们相干操控单原子及其与光相互作用的研究.基于传统Fabry-Perot光学腔,设计了一套易于内腔原子操控的强耦合腔QED系统,其典型参数为:腔长3.5 mm精细度约为57000,(g0,κ,γ)=2π×(1.48,0.375,2.61)MHz,临界光子数和原子数分别为1.54和0.89.该系统的特点是:能够在腔内直接实现冷原子磁光阱,并建立腔内光学晶格,实现腔内可控数目的中性原子的长时间俘获.通过合理选择构建光学偶极阱和原子成像系统,可实现对腔内单个原子或原子阵列的操控、探测、成像等.该系统可以克服传统腔QED系统中转移原子的困难,大幅增加腔内原子的寿命,为构建以腔QED系统为基础的量子信息演示平台提供了一种可能.     

The cold atom Hubbard toolbox

We review recent theoretical advances in cold atom physics concentrating on strongly correlated cold atoms in optical lattices. We discuss recently developed quantum optical tools for manipulating atoms and show how they can be used to realize a wide range of many body Hamiltonians. Then, we describe connections and differences to condensed matter physics and present applications in the fields of quantum computing and quantum simulations. Finally, we explain how defects and atomic quantum dots can be introduced in a controlled way in optical lattice systems.     

Relativistic quantum effects of Dirac particles simulated by ultracold atoms

Quantum simulation is a powerful tool to study a variety of problems in physics, ranging from high-energy physics to condensed-matter physics. In this article, we review the recent theoretical and experimental progress in quantum simulation of Dirac equation with tunable parameters by using ultracold neutral atoms trapped in optical lattices or subject to light-induced synthetic gauge fields. The effective theories for the quasiparticles become relativistic under certain conditions in these systems, making them ideal platforms for studying the exotic relativistic effects. We focus on the realization of one, two, and three dimensional Dirac equations as well as the detection of some relativistic effects, including particularly the well-known Zitterbewegung effect and Klein tunneling. The realization of quantum anomalous Hall effects is also briefly discussed.     

Quantum many particle systems in ring-shaped optical lattices

In the present work we demonstrate how to realize a 1D closed optical lattice experimentally, including a tunable boundary phase twist. The latter may induce "persistent currents" visible by studying the atoms' momentum distribution. We show how important phenomena in 1D physics can be studied by physical realization of systems of trapped atoms in ring-shaped optical lattices. A mixture of bosonic and/or fermionic atoms can be loaded into the lattice, realizing a generic quantum system of many interacting particles.     

Two-dimensional novel optical lattices with multi-well traps for cold atoms or molecules

We propose some new schemes to constitute two-dimensional (2D) array of multi-well optical dipole traps for cold atoms (or molecules) by using an optical system consisting of a binary π-phase grating and a 2D array of rectangle microlens. We calculate the intensity distribution of each optical well in 2D array of multi-well traps and its geometric parameters and so on. The proposed 2D array of multi-well traps can be used to form novel 2D optical lattices with cold atoms (or molecules), and form various novel optical crystals with cold atoms (or molecules), or to perform quantum computing and quantum information processing on an atom chip, even to realize an array of all-optical multi-well atomic (or molecular) BoseEinstein condensates (BECs) on an all-optical integrated atom (or molecule) chip.     

Cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattices with additional magnetic field and harmonic trap potential

We analytically and numerically discuss the stability and dynamics of neutral atoms in a two-dimensional optical lattice subjected to an additional harmonic trap potential and artificial magnetic field. The harmonic trap potential plays a key role in modifying the equilibrium state properties of the system and stabilizing the cyclotron orbits of the condensate.Meanwhile, the presence of the harmonic trap potential and lattice potential results in rich cyclotron dynamics of the condensate. The coupling effects of lattice potential, artificial magnetic field, and harmonic trap potential lead to single periodic, multi-periodic or quasi-periodic cyclotron orbits of the condensate. So we can control the cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattice by manipulating the strength of harmonic confinement, artificial magnetic field, and initial conditions. Our results provide a direct theoretical evidence for the cyclotron dynamics of neutral atoms in optical lattices exposed to the artificial gauge magnetic field and harmonic trap potential.     

Quantum state manipulation of single-Cesium-atom qubit in a micro-optical trap

Based on single Cesium atoims trapped in a 1064 nm microscopic optical trap we have exhibited a single qubit encoded in the Cesium ＂clock states＂. The single qubit initialization, detection and the fast state rotation with high efficiencies are demonstrated and this state manipulation is crucial for quantmn information processing. The ground ~ates Rabi flopping rate of 229.0 ± 0.6 kHz is realized hy a two-photon Raman process. A clock states dephasing time of 3.0 ± 0.7 ms is measured, while all irreversible homogeneous dephasing time of 124 ± 17 ms is achieved by using the spin-echo technique. This well-controlled single atom provides an ideal quantmn qubit and quantmn node for quantum information processing.     

Micro traps for quantum information processing and precision force sensing

We review recent experimental progress towards quantum information processing and precision force sensing using neutral atoms in micro traps. Microscopic potential structures as generated by optical or electronic microstructures (micro traps) allow for a versatile manipulation of quantum states of atoms and of ultracold atomic quantum gases. Most recent experimental results include the implementation of single‐qubit‐operations in both, optical and magnetic micro traps, as well as in the demonstration of matter‐wave interferometer using Bose‐Einstein condensates coherently split in micro traps.     

Ultracold atomic gases in optical lattices: mimicking condensed matter physics and beyond

We review recent developments in the physics of ultracold atomic and molecular gases in optical lattices. Such systems are nearly perfect realisations of various kinds of Hubbard models, and as such may very well serve to mimic condensed matter phenomena. We show how these systems may be employed as quantum simulators to answer some challenging open questions of condensed matter, and even high energy physics. After a short presentation of the models and the methods of treatment of such systems, we discuss in detail, which challenges of condensed matter physics can be addressed with (i) disordered ultracold lattice gases, (ii) frustrated ultracold gases, (iii) spinor lattice gases, (iv) lattice gases in “artificial” magnetic fields, and, last but not least, (v) quantum information processing in lattice gases. For completeness, also some recent progress related to the above topics with trapped cold gases will be discussed.

Motto:     

Sublattice addressing and spin-dependent motion of atoms in a double-well lattice

We load atoms into every site of an optical lattice and selectively spin flip atoms in a sublattice consisting of every other site. These selected atoms are separated from their unselected neighbors by less than an optical wavelength. We also show spin-dependent transport, where atomic wave packets are coherently separated into adjacent sites according to their internal state. These tools should be useful for quantum information processing and quantum simulation of lattice models with neutral atoms.     

Local quantum criticality in confined fermions on optical lattices

Using quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the one-dimensional fermionic Hubbard model in a harmonic potential displays quantum critical behavior at the boundaries of a Mott-insulating region. A local compressibility defined to characterize the Mott-insulating phase has a nontrivial critical exponent. Both the local compressibility and the variance of the local density show universality with respect to the confining potential. We determine a generic phase diagram, which allows the prediction of the phases to be observed in experiments with ultracold fermionic atoms trapped on optical lattices.     

Random scattering by atomic density fluctuations in optical lattices

We investigate hitherto unexplored regimes of probe scattering by atoms trapped in optical lattices: weak scattering by effectively random atomic density distributions and multiple scattering by arbitrary atomic distributions. Both regimes are predicted to exhibit a universal semicircular scattering line shape for large density fluctuations, which depend on temperature and quantum statistics.     

Coherence properties and quantum state transportation in an optical conveyor belt

We have prepared and detected quantum coherences of trapped cesium atoms with long dephasing times. Controlled transport by an "optical conveyor belt" over macroscopic distances preserves the atomic coherence with slight reduction of coherence time. The limiting dephasing effects are experimentally identified, and we present an analytical model of the reversible and irreversible dephasing mechanisms. Our experimental methods are applicable at the single-atom level. Coherent quantum bit operations along with quantum state transport open the route towards a "quantum shift register" of individual neutral atoms.     

Efficient nonlocal two-step entanglement concentration protocol for three-level atoms in an arbitrary less-entangledW state using cavity input-output process

We present an efficient two-step entanglement concentration protocol (ECP) for three-level atoms trapped in one-sided optical micro-cavities in an arbitrary three-particle less-entangled W state, using the coherent state input-output process in low-Q cavity quantum electrodynamics system. In each step of the new proposed protocol, one of the three remote users prepares the auxiliary coherent optical pulses to perform cavity input-output process and then utilizes the standard homodyne measurement to discriminate the final outgoing coherent states. When both of the two steps are successful, remote parties can deterministically concentrate the less-entangled W state atoms to a standard maximally entangled W state. Compared with previous ECPs for W state, this protocol has some advantages and can be widely used in current quantum repeater and some quantum information processing tasks.     

Observation of V-type electromagnetically induced transparency and optical switch in cold Cs atoms by using nanofiber optical lattice

Optical nanofiber (ONF) is a special tool to achieve the interaction between light and matter with ultralow power. In this paper, we demonstrate V-type electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in cold atoms trapped by an ONF-based two-color optical lattice. At an optical depth of 7.35, 90% transmission can be achieved by only 7.7 pW coupling power. The EIT peak and linewidth are investigated as a function of the coupling optical power. By modulating the pW-level control beam of the ONF-EIT system in sequence, we further achieve efficient and high contrast control of the probe transmission, as well as its potential application in the field of quantum communication and quantum information science by using one-dimensional atomic chains.     

Quantum ratchets in dissipative chaotic systems

Using the method of quantum trajectories, we study a quantum chaotic dissipative ratchet appearing for particles in a pulsed asymmetric potential in the presence of a dissipative environment. The system is characterized by directed transport emerging from a quantum strange attractor. This model exhibits, in the limit of small effective Planck constant, a transition from quantum to classical behavior, in agreement with the correspondence principle. We also discuss parameter values suitable for the implementation of the quantum ratchet effect with cold atoms in optical lattices.     

Neutral atom quantum register

We demonstrate the realization of a quantum register using a string of single neutral atoms which are trapped in an optical dipole trap. The atoms are selectively and coherently manipulated in a magnetic field gradient using microwave radiation. Our addressing scheme operates with a high spatial resolution, and qubit rotations on individual atoms are performed with 99% contrast. In a final readout operation we analyze each individual atomic state. Finally, we have measured the coherence time and identified the predominant dephasing mechanism for our register.