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Physics and Astronomy Investigations of ultracold atom dynamics in optical lattices

Theme: Quantum Wavefunctions

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Example Project: Investigations of ultracold atom dynamics in optical lattices

 

Faculty Mentor: Steven Tomsovic

The experimental capabilities of exploring many-body physics have ex- ploded for systems comprised of ultracold atoms [1–3]. Fundamental questions regarding how many-body systems well isolated from their environment relax, thermalize, localize, etc… are being addressed with ultracold gasses in optical lattices. An important theoretical model that captures essential dynamical features involving interactions and tunnelling between bosons sitting in the lowest Wannier states of optical lattice sites is given by the discrete Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian,

where L is the number of sites, J the tunnelling or hopping energy between sites, and U the interaction strength between particles. Gen- eralizations to two- and three-dimensional lattices are possible as well. Quantum calculations can be performed if the particle and site num- bers are not too great. For larger system sizes, there is a mean field approach, the so-called truncated Wigner approximation, which allows for understanding the dynamics [4, 5]. In between these regimes is what would very appropriately be called a mesoscopic or semiclassical regime in which quantum interference phenomena between mean field solutions is still important to take into account, but direct quantum calculations are prohibitive.

Recently, Prof. Steven Tomsovic and co-workers have developed new semiclassical techniques using a coherent state approach for making semiclassical approximations to the quantum dynamics [6], and have extended the truncated Wigner approximation to include constructive quantum interference effects due to discrete symmetries [7]. An individ- ual project would be designed for each REU student that involves exploring the quantum dynamics in such systems. The issues of relaxation, thermalization, and the role of quantum interferences would be the main focus.

Undergraduate Research

Prof. Tomsovic has been a faculty member for 25 years and has advised many undergraduate student research projects in that time. Three of his undergraduate mentees participated in a previous departmental NSF REU grant. One won a Goldwater Fellowship, and 2 went to Cornell University for graduate school. A number of his previous students have been women. Currently, he is teaching the undergraduate thesis course, and has for several years. In addition to writing their theses, the students present their research in a university-wide open poster session. The students learn how to present their work in a conference-like setting and greatly value this opportunity. Preparing for the session improves the students’ communication skills and afterward their theses are improved by their experiences presenting their work.


[1] I. Bloch, J. Dalibard, and W. Zwerger, Rev. Mod. Phys. 80, 885 (2008).

[2] A. M. Kaufman, M. E. Tai, A. Lukin, M. Rispoli, R. Schittko, P. M. Preiss, and M. Greiner, Science 353, 794 (2016).

[3] J. Choi, S. Hild, J. Zeiher, P. Schauβ, A. Rubio-Abadal, T. Yefsah, V. Khemani, D. A. Huse, I. Bloch, and C. Gross, Science 352, 1547 (2016).

[4] M.J. Steel, M. K. Olsen, L. I. Plimak, P. D. Drummond, S. M. Tan, M. J. Collett, D. F. Walls, and R. Graham, Phys. Rev. A 58, 4824 (1998).

[5] A. Sinatra, C. Lobo, and Y. Castin, J. Phys. B: Atom. Molec. Opt. Phys. 35, 3599 (2002).

[6] S. Tomsovic, P. Schlagheck, D. Ullmo, J.-D. Urbina, and K. Richter, Phys. Rev. A 97, 061606(R) (2018), arXiv:1711.04693v2 [quant-ph].

[7] P.Schlagheck,  D.  Ullmo,  J.-D.  Urbina,  K.  Richter,     and  S.  Tomsovic,  submittted  to  Phys.  Rev.  Lett.     (2019), arXiv:1906.06143 [cond-mat.quant-gas].