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NAQUAS: Non-equilibrium dynamics in Atomic systems for QUAntum Simulation.

Lead Research Organisation: University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Publications

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Dogra LH (2019) Can Three-Body Recombination Purify a Quantum Gas? in Physical review letters

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Navon N (2021) Quantum gases in optical boxes in Nature Physics

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Hilker TA (2022) First and Second Sound in a Compressible 3D Bose Fluid. in Physical review letters

 
Description This grant had been extended due to covid-related delays, but in the end was very successful and has already resulted in 5 major publications - 1 Nature, 1 Science, 1 Nature Physics, and 2 Phys. Rev. Letters; a few more papers are currently under review or in draft stage.

In our Science paper (2019) we have demonstrated a novel way to study turbulence, which is a centuries-old problem, using homogeneous ultracold atomic gases, and in a complementary PRL (2021) we have studied the nonlinear decay of the lowest gapped mode of a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is a first step towards the microscopic understanding of the generation of turbulence. In a 2021 Nature Physics we observed universal dynamical scaling behaviour in the thermalisation dynamics of a closed quantum system. In our theoretical PRL paper (highlighted as an Editors' Suggestion) we have shown how, counterintuitively, in some cases dissipative processes can lead to purification of quantum states. In the final stages of the grant we also studied first and second sound in hydrodynamic homogeneous Bose gases, a particular highlight being our first ever observation (in any physical system) of the first and second sound in a two-dimensional superfluid; this work was published in Nature in 2021.
Exploitation Route We have studied turbulence in a rather academic blue-sky setting, but this ubiquitous phenomenon is also relevant in many practical contexts, from engineering to chemical industry, and the better understanding of its fundamental principle could in the long run have significant economic and societal impacts. Our work on dissipation-driven purification of quantum states could be relevant for preparation of practically important states in the context of the emerging quantum technologies.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Chemicals

Energy

Transport

URL http://www-amop.phy.cam.ac.uk/amop-zh/index.html
 
Description Our work within this grant was instrumental for brining €2.5M into the UK via an ERC Advanced grant. Within the UK, our work on nonequilibrium physics was crucial for establishing a new research area that combines EPSRC and STFC research, and fundamental research with quantum technologies. Part of this impact (for us) is the further funding we got from STFC, but the bigger and longer-lasting impact is the (contribution to) formation of a new multi-disciplinary community in the UK that is training a large future highly-skilled workforce.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Other
Impact Types Economic

Policy & public services

 
Description Many-body Dynamics and Universality in Flatland (ERC Advanced Grant)
Amount € 2,500,000 (EUR)
Funding ID 101019302 
Organisation European Research Council (ERC) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 11/2021 
End 10/2026
 
Description Quantum Simulators for Fundamental Physics
Amount £670,424 (GBP)
Funding ID ST/T006056/1 
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 06/2025
 
Title Research data supporting "Bidirectional dynamic scaling in an isolated Bose gas far from equilibrium" 
Description Measured atom numbers, energies, and momentum distributions, as described in the linked manuscript. The readme files provided include the necessary information to interpret and use the data. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/315777
 
Title Research data supporting "Emergence of isotropy and dynamic scaling in 2D wave turbulence in a homogeneous Bose gas" 
Description The 'Figure' folders contain the source data for data points shown in the corresponding figures in the manuscript. The readme files provided include the necessary information to interpret and use the data. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/342861
 
Title Research data supporting "First and Second Sound in a Compressible 3D Bose Fluid" 
Description The supporting data found in the zip folder contains the experimental data points and theory curves for the paper, while the read-me file provides associated details. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/337901
 
Title Research data supporting "Many-body Decay of the Gapped Lowest Excitation of a Bose-Einstein Condensate" 
Description Data supporting the publication: The data presented in each figure is provided as well as all of the raw time traces of the center-of-mass velocity. The 'Fig' folders contain text files with the data shown in each figure, with file names providing driving amplitude and frequency identifiers. The 'CoMvData' folder contains all traces of center-of-mass velocity versus time which have been used in the paper. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/326424
 
Title Research data supporting "Observation of first and second sound in a BKT superfluid" 
Description The 'Figure' folders contain the source data (density distribution, time trace, response spectra, sound speeds, superfluid density) for data points shown in the corresponding figures in the manuscript. The readme files provided include the necessary information to interpret and use the data. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? Yes  
URL https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/322566