TwoCompQuaGas · Dynamics of two-component quantum gases

Dynamics of two-component quantum gases

Quantum mechanics revolutionized the 20th century, leading to an understanding of equilibrium states of matter – from the familiar solids, liquids and gases, to exotic ones such as superconductivity. This knowledge lead to myriad technological developments that enable the modern world around us, such as the transistors that underpin computer processors and NMR machines that allow high-resolution scans of the body. While there still remain mysteries, the general organizing principles for equilibrium phases of matter are well understood. In the 21st century, non-equilibrium quantum physics has emerged as the new forefront in research. At heart such research aims to answer: How are the properties of a given material modified when it is driven out of equilibrium? This might occur, for example, when a laser is shone on its surface, or heat is applied to one end. In such a scenario, is it possible to abandon some of the equilibrium organizing principles, and in doing so realize completely new phases of matter? If yes, can we realize new phases of matter with unusual or useful properties? These questions are central to much contemporary research, and this project. In this project, we study both the equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of quantum gases. Quantum gases are ubiquitous in nature, describing collections of particles that move and interacting with another. Experimentally they can be realized by cooling and bring together many atoms, forming a so-called cold atomic gas. Quantum gases also arise as the effective low-energy description of almost any quantum system. This includes, for example, the electrons in a material that move by hopping between different atoms – despite experiencing the crystal lattice, at low-energies they behave as if they are in quantum gas. So, by understanding the properties of quantum gases we can gain insight into many different physical problems. The project focus is to understand properties of multi-component quantum gases, where each particle has internal degrees of freedom that describe, say, the spin state of the electron or the hyperfine level of a cold atom. While such gases are very common, they present significant theoretical challenges and understanding their properties requires the development of new pen-and-paper and computational methods. The main objective of the project is develop these new methods, apply them to obtain new insights, and extend them to treat ever more challenging problems.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union