Cooperative light propagation and spectroscopy with cold atoms
Lead Research Organisation:
Lancaster University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
Traditional analysis of light propagation in a medium is based on more than a century-old theories of electrodynamics of a continuous polarizable medium and its consequences such as standard optics. In cold and dense atomic gases such theories can qualitatively fail. This is because light mediates strong interactions between the atoms that establish correlations between the positions of individual atoms in the cloud. In this project we theoretically study light propagation in cold and dense atomic ensembles. The work will be done in a close collaboration with experimental groups who trap cold and dense atomic gases in laboratories. The goal is to utilize the strong light-mediated interactions in the design of better atomic systems for high-precision measurements. Improved detection techniques could, for instance, lead to more accurate time measurements, better satellite navigation and better lasers.
Planned Impact
During the year of light 2015, it was highlighted in several occasions how light technology forms an essential part of modern society. In classical and quantum light technologies resonant emitters play an increasingly important role. The goal is to make the emitter systems smaller, denser and more coherent. This will dramatically increase the interactions between the emitters. Understanding these interactions is essential for the development and design of new optical devices.
Strong interactions can be achieved in cold atomic gases as a result of homogeneous resonance broadening, but the homogeneous broadening can also be obtained, e.g., with nano-emitters, quantum dots and metamaterials via high-quality fabrication when the resonance properties of individual emitters no longer vary significantly. The proposed project therefore also has broad importance to a wide range of optical systems, and we have previously found our studies of nanofabricated resonators and atoms mutually very beneficial, with atomic physics phenomena generating ideas for nanophotonics, and vice versa.
The applications of light-atom systems include quantum light-matter interfaces that are important for quantum information processing (entanglement generation, quantum memories, quantum networks, etc) and, e.g., laser technology, where cooperative effects in superradiant lasers may allow the development of very high frequency stability. Confinement of light in waveguides could potentially be utilized in the development of photonic devices with single photon switches, transistors and networks.
Quantum Technologies (QTs) in sensing are already outperforming conventional sensors in the measurements of gravity, rotation and magnetic fields. Accurate gravity sensors can be utilized, e.g., in oil exploration or in civil engineering. Atomic clocks are essential, e.g., in high precision measurements and satellite navigation, while accelerometers are needed for navigation without satellites and could in the future revolutionize vehicle transport. Faraday interaction has many applications in magnetometry, telecommunications and laser technology. The best stability, accuracy and reproducibility of atomic clocks are currently achieved with neutral strontium atoms using optical transitions (at NIST). The experiments already are in a regime where the many-atom radiative dipole-dipole interactions are important. The importance of squeezed states for precision-measurements is also widely recognized. Spin squeezed states are important for quantum-enhanced interferometric applications, where the accuracy of the interferometer can exceed the standard quantum limit of classical interferometers. Optical spin squeezing is used in LIGO gravitational wave detection. These experiments are currently trying to improve the fundamental limit of the measurement precision that can be obtained with given resources by utilizing spin squeezing to achieve quantum-enhancement in the interferometric measurements.
The UK government has launched a QT Programme with a network of QT Hubs that illustrates how quantum physics is being transferred from scientific discoveries to real-world applications. The Hubs bring together physicists, engineers, industry and end-users. From sensing to metrology and quantum information processing, the interaction of light with atoms is crucial. Although our proposal addresses fundamental research topics, it aims to develop concepts and understanding which will have a technological impact on a time span well beyond the one set for the QT Hubs. Also DSTL funds QT research with a goal to develop compact atomic clocks, gravity gradiometers and a precise navigation system from clocks, accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Understanding science forms a profound part of general cultural knowledge. The training of students and research assistants with advanced numerical and analytic problem-solving skills will also benefit many areas of society outside academia.
Strong interactions can be achieved in cold atomic gases as a result of homogeneous resonance broadening, but the homogeneous broadening can also be obtained, e.g., with nano-emitters, quantum dots and metamaterials via high-quality fabrication when the resonance properties of individual emitters no longer vary significantly. The proposed project therefore also has broad importance to a wide range of optical systems, and we have previously found our studies of nanofabricated resonators and atoms mutually very beneficial, with atomic physics phenomena generating ideas for nanophotonics, and vice versa.
The applications of light-atom systems include quantum light-matter interfaces that are important for quantum information processing (entanglement generation, quantum memories, quantum networks, etc) and, e.g., laser technology, where cooperative effects in superradiant lasers may allow the development of very high frequency stability. Confinement of light in waveguides could potentially be utilized in the development of photonic devices with single photon switches, transistors and networks.
Quantum Technologies (QTs) in sensing are already outperforming conventional sensors in the measurements of gravity, rotation and magnetic fields. Accurate gravity sensors can be utilized, e.g., in oil exploration or in civil engineering. Atomic clocks are essential, e.g., in high precision measurements and satellite navigation, while accelerometers are needed for navigation without satellites and could in the future revolutionize vehicle transport. Faraday interaction has many applications in magnetometry, telecommunications and laser technology. The best stability, accuracy and reproducibility of atomic clocks are currently achieved with neutral strontium atoms using optical transitions (at NIST). The experiments already are in a regime where the many-atom radiative dipole-dipole interactions are important. The importance of squeezed states for precision-measurements is also widely recognized. Spin squeezed states are important for quantum-enhanced interferometric applications, where the accuracy of the interferometer can exceed the standard quantum limit of classical interferometers. Optical spin squeezing is used in LIGO gravitational wave detection. These experiments are currently trying to improve the fundamental limit of the measurement precision that can be obtained with given resources by utilizing spin squeezing to achieve quantum-enhancement in the interferometric measurements.
The UK government has launched a QT Programme with a network of QT Hubs that illustrates how quantum physics is being transferred from scientific discoveries to real-world applications. The Hubs bring together physicists, engineers, industry and end-users. From sensing to metrology and quantum information processing, the interaction of light with atoms is crucial. Although our proposal addresses fundamental research topics, it aims to develop concepts and understanding which will have a technological impact on a time span well beyond the one set for the QT Hubs. Also DSTL funds QT research with a goal to develop compact atomic clocks, gravity gradiometers and a precise navigation system from clocks, accelerometers and gyroscopes.
Understanding science forms a profound part of general cultural knowledge. The training of students and research assistants with advanced numerical and analytic problem-solving skills will also benefit many areas of society outside academia.
Organisations
- Lancaster University (Lead Research Organisation)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Amherst College (Collaboration)
- L'Institut d'Optique Graduate School (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of Amsterdam (Collaboration)
- University of East Anglia (Collaboration)
- University of Münster (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
- Aarhus University (Project Partner)
- Yeshiva University (Project Partner)
- University of Paris-Sud (Project Partner)
Publications
Ballantine K
(2022)
Unidirectional absorption, storage, and emission of single photons in a collectively responding bilayer atomic array
in Physical Review Research
Ballantine K
(2022)
Optical magnetism and wavefront control by arrays of strontium atoms
in Physical Review Research
Ballantine K
(2022)
Optical magnetism and wavefront control by arrays of strontium atoms
Ballantine K
(2021)
Cooperative optical wavefront engineering with atomic arrays
in Nanophotonics
Ballantine K
(2020)
Subradiance-protected excitation spreading in the generation of collimated photon emission from an atomic array
in Physical Review Research
Description | We have been able to demonstrate the cooperative response of atoms as well as artificial atoms in planar arrays to resonant light. This has included the effects of disorder, strong reflection and transmission of light and their potential use as magnetometers. We have had a significant impact on the development of the lattices of atoms as an optical medium for cooperative interactions that are now actively pursued around the world. The main achievements have been in engineering specific excitations that are useful for both optical manipulation and from fundamental point of interest, e.g., due to their topology. This also includes manipulation of topology in light beams. |
Exploitation Route | This the basic framework for radiative coupling of arrays of atoms and has potential for sensing technology in the future. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Healthcare |
Description | I have continued the research on atomic planar arrays cooperatively responding to light, showcasing their potential as quantum metasurfaces for manipulating and controlling light. I started and pioneered this field right before the grant and it has emerged during the grant as a forefront research area in quantum optics of atoms. During the grant, I have made significant progress in developing the field and inspired and guided high-profile experimentalists to get involved [Nature 583, 369 (2020)] |
First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Other |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Member of Peer Review College (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen) |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | Prioritisation panel member EPSRC standard grants |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | Birmingham |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contributing to theory analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributing to theory analysis |
Impact | ongoing |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Cold atoms, Amherst |
Organisation | Amherst College |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with an experimental group. |
Collaborator Contribution | In kind contribution of research time of the faculty member and a PhD student. Access to research data. |
Impact | One publication in Nature Communications in 2019 |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Denz |
Organisation | University of Münster |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Theoretical analysis of experiments contribution |
Collaborator Contribution | Experiment |
Impact | Ongoing |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Durham |
Organisation | Durham University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Theory collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | Theory collaboration involved a Durham PDRA |
Impact | Communcations Physics publication |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | E Anglia |
Organisation | University of East Anglia |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Theory collaboration on numerical simulations |
Collaborator Contribution | Theory collaboration on numerical simulations |
Impact | One Phys Rev Lett published |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Soton 1 |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with experimentalists at Centre of Metamaterials where we provided theory support and analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Performed experiments, access to data, staff time |
Impact | Two publications in Phys Rev B |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Soton 2 |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration with experimentalist group of Lagoudakis where theory supports and guides the experiment. We proposed and formulated a model for a all-optical topological band structure realising a classic model of band-structure topology whihc was implemented by experimentalists. |
Collaborator Contribution | Implementing the experiment, details provided of experimental conditions, numerical modeiling |
Impact | Nature Communication publication, news coverage |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Southampton |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Department | PublicPolicy@Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | The group of Lagoudakis using laboratory at Skolkovo, related to Soton 2 collaboration |
Collaborator Contribution | The group of Lagoudakis using laboratory at Skolkovo, related to Soton 2 collaboration |
Impact | Nature Comm publication |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | University of Amsterdam |
Organisation | University of Amsterdam |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Research collaboration with an experimental group. The group has had one permanent faculty member, one postdoctoral research fellow and two PhD students working on the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | The time of the four members one permanent faculty member, one postdoctoral research fellow and two PhD students. They have also provided access to research data. |
Impact | One publication in 2019 (listed in the outcomes) |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | paris |
Organisation | L'Institut d'Optique Graduate School |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Theoretical analysis of experimental findings |
Collaborator Contribution | valuable experimental data and research team time |
Impact | Publication: Physical Review Letters 113, 133602 (2014) |
Start Year | 2013 |
Title | Quantum and Nonlinear Effects in Light Transmitted through Planar Atomic Arrays |
Description | This DOI contains code used to produce the results in the referenced paper. The code calculates light scattering from ensembles of interacting atoms using linear, semiclassical, and quantum models. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3924698 |
Title | Quantum and Nonlinear Effects in Light Transmitted through Planar Atomic Arrays |
Description | This DOI contains code used to produce the results in the referenced paper. The code calculates light scattering from ensembles of interacting atoms using linear, semiclassical, and quantum models. |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Open Source License? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/3924699 |
Description | 724. WE-Heraeus-Seminar: Collective Effects and Non-Equilibrium Quantum Dynamics workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2021 |
URL | https://www.we-heraeus-stiftung.de/veranstaltungen/seminare/2021/collective-effects-and-non-equilibr... |
Description | A talk or presentation - Invited Talk - workshop on Quantum and Topological Nanophotonics II, Singapore |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A workshop of the leading experts in the field including cross-disciplinary audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8d52/62e26abffc55b9cac8eb25f9bdd0921ffb45.pdf |
Description | Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, American Physical Society, annual conference 2021, talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics, APS, USA, online talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://damop.conferencecontent.net/login |
Description | EPSRC network on Metamaterials |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Member of EPSRC Network on Metamaterials MetaUK that includes both academics and industry utilising metamaterials. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | EU FET-Open Network ErBeStA workshop, Berlin, invited talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | EU FET-Open Network ErBeStA international workshop, Berlin |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.erbesta.eu |
Description | Invited talk - Atom-based Quantum Photonics, Durham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk in an international workshop including researchers working on atomic systems interacting with light |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://aqpmeeting2022.blogspot.com/p/home.html |
Description | Invited talk - Division of Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, American Physical Society, Orlando USA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk, one of the main sessions - Division of Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics, American Physical Society, Orlando USA. Large audience of in the lecture room and online. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DAMOP22/Content/4203 |
Description | Invited talk - Dynamics of Complex Quantum Systems, Windsor |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk in specialist workshop involving discussions and followup seminar invitations abroad |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.ccpqwindsor.org/home |
Description | Invited talk - Frontiers of Quantum and Mesoscopic Thermodynamics, Prague, Czech Republic |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk in a conference sparking discussions and followup contacts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://fqmt.fzu.cz/19/ |
Description | Invited talk - META 2018, the 9th International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International major conference in the field |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited talk - META 2019, the 10th International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk, initiated discussions and comments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://metaconferences.org/ocs/index.php/META19/META19#.XmflpS2cYlI |
Description | Invited talk - Non-Equilibrium Phenomena in Superfluid and Coherent Quantum Systems, Newcastle |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk in specialist workshop |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/noneqphenomena/ |
Description | Invited talk - Waves Cote d'Azur, Wave phenomena in Disordered Systems, Nice |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk in leading conference in the field |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://wavescotedazur.org |
Description | Invited talk Dissipative Quantum Chaos: from Semi-Groups to QED Experiments, Republic of Korea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk Dissipative Quantum Chaos: from Semi-Groups to QED Experiments, Republic of Korea; Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems, Daejeon. Important international workshop on a specialist topic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://pcs.ibs.re.kr/PCS_Workshops/PCS_Dissipative_Quantum_Chaos_from_Semi-Groups_to_QED.html |
Description | META 2021, the 11th International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics, talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | META 2021, the 11th International Conference on Metamaterials, Photonic Crystals and Plasmonics, Warsaw Poland, July 2021, online talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.metaconferences.org/ocs/index.php/META21/META21#.Yi9lhS2cYhg |
Description | METANANO 2021, VI International Conference on Metamaterials and Nanophotonics, invited talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | METANANO 2021, VI International Conference on Metamaterials and Nanophotonics, invited talk, online conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://metanano.itmo.ru/2021/ |
Description | Metamaterials 2021, 15th International Congress on Artificial Materials for Novel wave Phenomena, New York, USA |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Metamaterials 2021, 15th International Congress on Artificial Materials for Novel wave Phenomena, talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://congress2021.metamorphose-vi.org |
Description | New Scientist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | New Scientist article "Ultracold atoms can work together to shape or steer light" on our recent research, K. E. Ballantine, J. Ruostekoski, Optical Magnetism and Huygens' Surfaces in Arrays of Atoms Induced by Cooperative Responses, Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 143604 (2020). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253825-ultracold-atoms-can-work-together-to-shape-or-steer-lig... |
Description | Press release - fundamental particle modelled by light |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Several sites reported the findings of Nature Communications publications, for example, https://www.techexplorist.com/elusive-kind-fundamental-particle-modeled-beam-light/42489/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=elusive-kind-fundamental-particle-modeled-beam-light |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.techexplorist.com/elusive-kind-fundamental-particle-modeled-beam-light/42489/?utm_source... |
Description | Researchers synthesize artificial solid-state crystal structures using laser light |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | News reports on our recent research article in Phys Org L. Pickup, H. Sigurdsson, J. Ruostekoski, P. G. Lagoudakis, Synthetic band-structure engineering in polariton crystals with non-Hermitian topological phases, Nature Comm. 11, 4431 (2020). Similarly reported in several other locations |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://phys.org/news/2020-09-artificial-solid-state-crystal-laser.html |
Description | The Munich Conference on Quantum Science and Technology 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Munich Conference on Quantum Science and Technology 2021 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.mcqst.de/conference2021/ |
Description | Workshop organisation on Complex superfluids |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was an organiser for a workshop on Complex superfluids that brought together specialists working on topological aspects of superfluids, both atomic and superfluid liquid helium plus related optical and solid-state systems. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |