Direct quantum simulation using cold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
We shall develop the experimental techniques for direct quantum simulation of condensed matter systems using ultra-cold bosonic atoms in optical lattices, in the five stages listed under the Objectives heading. Stage 1 has already been achieved in Oxford using evaporative cooling in a magnetic trap but by changing to an optical dipole trap we shall obtain BEC more quickly and speed up data taking. We plan to have made substantial progress towards stage 2 by the start of any grant period, in particular to have a high numerical aperture lens (NA=0.8) in place that gives an optical resolution of better than 1 micron at the position of the cold atoms. To deterministically prepare a single atom in each well of the optical lattice potential we shall use a scheme based on Feshbach resonances (that we have previously studied in Oxford); resonant enhancement of the interaction between atoms at a certain magnetic field prevents there being more than one atom in the same well. In stage 4, we shall implement spin-dependent interactions between atoms in neighbouring sites using a method demonstrated experimentally in Munich (and continue to explore improved methods in collaboration with Dr Dieter Jaksch and his group in Oxford). The effect of an external magnetic field on a condensed matter system is simulated by imposing a phase shift on the atomic wave functions using Raman transitions. The final quantum state of each of the atoms in the optical lattice will be determined by fluorescence as in ion traps. Once methods for direct quantum simulation have been developed with bosons, and shown to give important results, we can extend them to fermionic atoms (e.g. potassium-40) and so study an even wider range of condensed matter systems.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Christopher Foot (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Heathcote W
(2008)
A ring trap for ultracold atoms in an RF-dressed state
in New Journal of Physics
Smirne G
(2007)
Collisional relaxation of Feshbach molecules and three-body recombination in Rb 87 Bose-Einstein condensates
in Physical Review A
Williams RA
(2008)
Dynamic optical lattices: two-dimensional rotating and accordion lattices for ultracold atoms.
in Optics express
Sherlock B
(2011)
Time-averaged adiabatic ring potential for ultracold atoms
in Physical Review A
Gildemeister M
(2010)
Trapping ultracold atoms in a time-averaged adiabatic potential
in Physical Review A
Description | Quantum simulation using ultracold atoms has proved to be a extremely powerful technique that is being taken up by numerous research groups. |
Exploitation Route | Quantum simulation is an integral part of the new EU project Quantera. |
Sectors | Electronics Other |
Description | Quantum simulation is now established as a very powerful technique for studying strongly correlated systems. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | EU FET |
Amount | € 244,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 03/2018 |