arXiv subjects

Fabio Di Pumpo

Publications and source records attributed to Fabio Di Pumpo.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

UGR tests with atomic clocks and atom interferometers

Atomic interference experiments test the universality of the coupling between matter-energy and gravity at different spacetime points, thus being in principle able to probe possible violations of the universality of the gravitational redshift (UGR). In this contribution, we introduce a UGR violation model and then discuss UGR tests performed by atomic clocks and atom interferometers on the same footing. We present a large class of atom-interferometric geometries which are sensitive to violations of UGR.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Gravitational Redshift Tests with Atomic Clocks and Atom Interferometers

Atomic interference experiments can probe the gravitational redshift via the internal energy splitting of atoms and thus give direct access to test the universality of the coupling between matter-energy and gravity at different spacetime points. By including possible violations of the equivalence principle in a fully quantized treatment of all degrees of freedom, we characterize how the sensitivity to gravitational redshift violations arises in atomic clocks and atom interferometers, as well as their underlying limitations. Specifically, we show that: (i.) Contributions beyond linear order to trapping potentials lead to such a sensitivity of trapped atomic clocks. (ii.) While Bragg-type interferometers, even with a superposition of internal states, with state-independent, linear interaction potentials are at first insensitive to gravitational redshift tests, modified configurations, for example by relaunching the atoms, can mimic such tests tests under certain conditions. (iii.) Guided atom interferometers are comparable to atomic clocks. (iv.) Internal transitions lead to state-dependent interaction potentials through which light-pulse atom interferometers can become sensitive to gravitational redshift violations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Qubit-based momentum measurement of a particle

An early approach to include pointers representing measurement devices into quantum mechanics was given by von Neumann. Based on this idea, we model such pointers by qubits and couple them to a free particle, in analogy to a classical time-of-flight arrangement. The corresponding Heisenberg dynamics leads to pointer observables whose expectation values allow us to reconstruct the particle's momentum distribution via the characteristic function. We investigate different initial qubit states and find that such a reconstruction can be considerably simplified by initially entangled pointers.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Atom-interferometric test of the universality of gravitational redshift and free fall

Light-pulse atom interferometers constitute powerful quantum sensors for inertial forces. They are based on delocalised spatial superpositions and the combination with internal transitions directly links them to atomic clocks. Since classical tests of the gravitational redshift are based on a comparison of two clocks localised at different positions under gravity, it is promising to explore whether the aforementioned interferometers constitute a competitive alternative for tests of general relativity. Here we present a specific geometry which together with state transitions leads to a scheme that is concurrently sensitive to both violations of the universality of free fall and gravitational redshift, two premises of general relativity. The proposed interferometer does not rely on a superposition of internal states, but merely on transitions between them, and therefore generalises the concept of physical atomic clocks and quantum-clock interferometry. An experimental realisation seems feasible with already demonstrated techniques in state-of-the-art facilities.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Pointer-based model for state reduction in momentum space

We revisit the pointer-based measurement concept of von Neumann which allows us to model a quantum counterpart of the classical time-of-flight (ToF) momentum. Our approach is based on the Hamiltonian for a particle interacting with two quantum pointers serving as basic measurement devices. The corresponding dynamics leads to a pointer-based ToF observable for the operational momentum of the particle. We can consider single measurements of our quantum pointers and show that this process will result in a state reduction for a single particle being downstream of the time-of-flight setup.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Prime Factorization of Arbitrary Integers with a Logarithmic Energy Spectrum

We propose an iterative scheme to factor numbers based on the quantum dynamics of an ensemble of interacting bosonic atoms stored in a trap where the single-particle energy spectrum depends logarithmically on the quantum number. When excited by a time-dependent interaction these atoms perform Rabi oscillations between the ground state and an energy state characteristic of the factors. The number to be factored is encoded into the frequency of the sinusoidally modulated interaction. We show that a measurement of the energy of the atoms at a time chosen at random yields the factors with probability one half. We conclude by discussing a protocol to obtain the desired prime factors employing a logarithmic energy spectrum which consists of prime numbers only.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Proper time in atom interferometers: Diffractive versus specular mirrors

We compare a conventional Mach-Zehnder light-pulse atom interferometer based on diffractive mirrors with one that uses specular reflection. In contrast to diffractive mirrors that generate a symmetric configuration, specular mirrors realized, for example, by evanescent fields lead under the influence of gravity to an asymmetric geometry. In such an arrangement the interferometer phase contains nonrelativistic signatures of proper time.

quant-ph↗