Nonclassical quantum states in bec (with a tunable scattering length)

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Project objective

We propose to take advantage of the intrinsically quantum nature of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) to create nonclassical states of matter waves, that is to say, states which cannot be described by a classical field. The first part of the project consists of directly observing number squeezing in a BEC loaded into an optical lattice, when the tunneling between adjacent wells is reduced. By using a lattice with a large separation between the sites, we plan to optically resolve each individual well and observe number fluctuations in each well below the usual sqrt(N) level, N being the number of atoms. The second part of the project consists of producing a BEC with attractive interaction between the atoms, and loading it into a double well optical potential made of two sheets of light. The system is predicted to evolve towards a highly nonclassical state consisting of a quantum superposition of all the atoms being in one well and all the atoms being in the other well. Such a Shrodinger-cat-like state is extremely fragile: we will study the sources of decoherence for a total atom number ranging from 10 to 100. These experiments are meant to open up the new field of quantum atom optics to experimental examination, and pave the way for sub-shot- noise atom interferometry and neutral atom quantum computing.

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Participants

• THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OXFORDCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

Links

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