arXiv subjects

D. K. Shin

Publications and source records attributed to D. K. Shin.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

On the survival of the quantum depletion of a condensate after release from a magnetic trap

We present observations of the high momentum tail in expanding Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable Helium atoms released from a harmonic trap. The far-field density profile exhibits features that support identification of the tails of the momentum distribution as originating in the in-situ quantum depletion prior to release. Thus, we corroborate recent observations of slowly-decaying tails in the far-field beyond the thermal component. This observation is in conflict with the hydrodynamic theory, which predicts that the in-situ depletion does not survive when atoms are released from a trap. Indeed, the depleted tails even appear stronger in the far-field than expected before release, and we discuss the challenges of interpreting this in terms of the Tan contact in the trapped gas. In complement to these observations, full quantum simulations of the experiment show that, under the right conditions, the depletion can persist into the far field after expansion. Moreover, the simulations provide mechanisms for survival and for the the large-momentum tails to appear stronger after expansion due to an acceleration of the depleted atoms by the mean-field potential. However, while in qualitative agreement, the final depletion observed in the experiment is much larger than in the simulation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Measurement of a helium tune-out frequency: an independent test of quantum electrodynamics

Despite quantum electrodynamics (QED) being one of the most stringently tested theories underpinning modern physics, recent precision atomic spectroscopy measurements have uncovered several small discrepancies between experiment and theory. One particularly powerful experimental observable that tests QED independently of traditional energy level measurements is the `tune-out' frequency, where the dynamic polarizability vanishes and the atom does not interact with applied laser light. In this work, we measure the `tune-out' frequency for the $2^{3\!}S_1$ state of helium between transitions to the $2^{3\!}P$ and $3^{3\!}P$ manifolds and compare it to new theoretical QED calculations. The experimentally determined value of $725\,736\,700\,$$(40_{\mathrm{stat}},260_{\mathrm{syst}})$ MHz is within ${\sim} 1.7σ$ of theory ($725\,736\,252(9)$ MHz), and importantly resolves both the QED contributions (${\sim} 30 σ$) and novel retardation (${\sim} 2 σ$) corrections.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Direct Measurement of the Forbidden $2^{3\!}S_1 \rightarrow 3^{3\!}S_1$ Atomic Transition in Helium

We present the detection of the highly forbidden $2^{3\!}S_1 \rightarrow 3^{3\!}S_1$ atomic transition in helium, the weakest transition observed in any neutral atom. Our measurements of the transition frequency, upper state lifetime, and transition strength agree well with published theoretical values, and can lead to tests of both QED contributions and different QED frameworks. To measure such a weak transition, we developed two methods using ultracold metastable ($2^{3\!}S_1$) helium atoms: low background direct detection of excited then decayed atoms for sensitive measurement of the transition frequency and lifetime; and a pulsed atom laser heating measurement for determining the transition strength. These methods could possibly be applied to other atoms, providing new tools in the search for ultra-weak transitions and precision metrology.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2020

Bogoliubov-Cherenkov Radiation in an Atom Laser

We develop a simple yet powerful technique to study Bogoliubov-Cherenkov radiation by producing a pulsed atom laser from a strongly confined Bose-Einstein condensate. Such radiation results when the atom laser pulse falls past a Bose-Einstein condensate at high-hypersonic speeds, modifying the spatial profile to display a characteristic twin jet structure and a complicated interference pattern. The experimental observations are in excellent agreement with mean-field numerical simulations and an analytic theory. Due to the highly hypersonic regime reached in our experiment, this system offers a highly controllable platform for future studies of condensed-matter analogs of quantum electrodynamics at ultrarelativistic speeds.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2019

Entanglement-based 3D magnetic gradiometry with an ultracold atomic scattering halo

Ultracold collisions of Bose-Einstein condensates can be used to generate a large number of counterpropagating pairs of entangled atoms, which collectively form a thin spherical shell in momentum space, called a scattering halo. Here we generate a scattering halo composed almost entirely of pairs in a symmetric entangled state and observe a scattering angle-dependent mixing to the anti-symmetric state due to the presence of an inhomogeneous magnetic field. We report on a proof-of-principle application of the observed parity dynamics to demonstrate magnetic gradiometry, insensitive to common-mode fluctuations of the background magnetic field. Furthermore, the highly multimode nature and narrow radial width of the scattering halos enable 3D tomography of an interrogated field without the need for a scanning probe.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

A strong Bell correlation witness between spatially separated pairs of atoms

The violation of a Bell inequality is a striking demonstration of how quantum mechanics contradicts local realism. Although the original argument was presented with a pair of spin 1/2 particles, so far Bell inequalities have been shown to be violated using entangled pairs of photons, with recent measurements closing all possible loopholes in such a scheme. Equivalent demonstrations using massive particles have proven to be much more challenging, generally relying on post-selection of data or measuring an entanglement witness that relies on quantum mechanics. Here, we use a collision between two Bose-Einstein condensates to generate the momentum-spin entangled pairs of ultracold helium atoms. We show that a maximally entangled Bell triplet state results and report a direct observation of a strong Bell correlation witness. Based on the high degree of entanglement and the controllability of ultracold atomic systems, extensions to this scheme would allow a demonstration of nonlocality with massive entangled pairs, following the original idea of Bell. Other applications include the demonstration of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, quantum metrology and tests of phenomena from exotic theories sensitive to such systems including gravitational decoherence and quantum gravity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Ghost Imaging with Atoms

Ghost imaging is a technique -- first realized in quantum optics -- in which the image emerges from cross-correlation between particles in two separate beams. One beam passes through the object to a bucket (single-pixel) detector, while the second beam's spatial profile is measured by a high resolution (multi-pixel) detector but never interacts with the object. Neither detector can reconstruct the image independently. However, until now ghost imaging has only been demonstrated with photons. Here we report the first realisation of ghost imaging of an object using massive particles. In our experiment, the two beams are formed by correlated pairs of ultracold metastable helium atoms, originating from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) via $s$-wave scattering. We use the higher-order Kapitza-Dirac effect to generate the large number of correlated atom pairs required, enabling the creation of a ghost image with good visibility and sub-millimetre resolution. Future extensions could include ghost interference as well as tests of EPR entantlement and Bell's inequalities.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗