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Gil S. Summy

Publications and source records attributed to Gil S. Summy.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Detecting Topological phase transitions in a double kicked quantum rotor

We present a concrete theoretical proposal for detecting topological phase transitions in double kicked atom-optics kicked rotors with internal spin-1/2 degree of freedom. The implementation utilizes a kicked Bose-Einstein condensate evolving in one-dimensional momentum space. To reduce influence of atom loss and phase decoherence we aim to keep experimental durations short while maintaining a resonant experimental protocol. Experimental limitations induced by phase noise, quasimomentum distributions, symmetries, and the AC-Stark shift are considered. Our results thus suggest a feasible and optimized procedure for observing topological phase transitions in quantum kicked rotors.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Light-shift induced behaviors observed in momentum-space quantum walks

Over the last decade there have been many advances in studies of quantum walks (QWs) including a momentum-space QW recently realized in our spinor Bose-Einstein condensate system. This QW possessed behaviors that generally agreed with theoretical predictions; however, it also showed momentum distributions that were not adequately explained by the theory. We present a theoretical model which proves that the coherent dynamics of the spinor condensate is sufficient to explain the experimental data without invoking the presence of a thermal cloud of atoms as in the original theory. Our numerical findings are supported by an analytical prediction for the momentum distributions in the limit of zero-temperature condensates. This current model provides more complete explanations to the momentum-space QWs that can be applied to study quantum search algorithms and topological phases in Floquet-driven systems.

quant-ph

Experimental realization of a momentum-space quantum walk

We report on a discrete-time quantum walk that uses the momentum of ultra-cold rubidium-87 atoms as the walk space and two internal atomic states as the coin degree of freedom. Each step of the walk consists of a coin toss (a microwave pulse) followed by a unitary shift operator (a resonant ratchet pulse). We carry out a comprehensive experimental study on the effects of various parameters, including the strength of the shift operation, coin parameters, noise, and initialization of the system on the behavior of the walk. The walk dynamics can be well controlled in our experiment; potential applications include atom interferometry and engineering asymmetric walks.

quant-ph

Quantum Walk in Momentum Space with a Bose-Einstein Condensate

We present a discrete-time, one-dimensional quantum walk based on the entanglement between the momentum of ultracold rubidium atoms (the walk space) and two internal atomic states (the "coin" degree of freedom). Our scheme is highly flexible and can provide a platform for a wide range of applications such as quantum search algorithms, the observation of topological phases, and the realization of walks with higher dimensionality. Along with the investigation of the quantum-to-classical transition, we demonstrate the distinctive features of a quantum walk and contrast them to those of its classical counterpart. Also, by manipulating either the walk or coin operator, we show how the walk dynamics can be steered or even reversed.

quant-ph

Hamiltonian ratchets with ultra-cold atoms

Quantum-resonance ratchets have been realized over the last ten years for the production of directed currents of atoms. These non-dissipative systems are based on the interaction of a Bose-Einstein condensate with an optical standing wave potential to produce a current of atoms in momentum space. In this paper we provide a review of the important features of these ratchets with a particular emphasis on their optimization using more complex initial states. We also examine their stability close to resonance conditions of the kicking. Finally we discuss the way in which these ratchets may pave the way for applications in quantum (random) walks and matter-wave interferometry.

quant-ph

Initial state dependence of a quantum-resonance ratchet

We demonstrate quantum resonance ratchets created with Bose-Einstein condensates exposed to pulses of an off-resonant standing light wave. We show how some of the basic properties of the ratchets are controllable through the creation of different initial states of the system. In particular, our results prove that through an appropriate choice of initial state it is possible to reduce the extent to which the ratchet state changes with respect to time. We develop a simple theory to explain our results and indicate how ratchets might be used as part of a matter wave interferometer or quantum-random walk experiment.

physics.atom-ph

Steering random walks with kicked ultracold atoms

A kicking sequence of the atom optics kicked rotor at quantum resonance can be interpreted as a quantum random walk in momentum space. We show how to steer such a random walk by applying a random sequence of intensities and phases of the kicking lattice chosen according to a probability distribution. This distribution converts on average into the final momentum distribution of the kicked atoms. In particular, it is shown that a power-law distribution for the kicking strengths results in a Lévy walk in momentum space and in a power-law with the same exponent in the averaged momentum distribution. Furthermore, we investigate the stability of our predictions in the context of a realistic experiment with Bose-Einstein condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Decoherence as a Probe of Coherent Quantum Dynamics

The effect of decoherence, induced by spontaneous emission, on the dynamics of cold atoms periodically kicked by an optical lattice is experimentally and theoretically studied. Ideally, the mean energy growth is essentially unaffected by weak decoherence, but the resonant momentum distributions are fundamentally altered. It is shown that experiments are inevitably sensitive to certain nontrivial features of these distributions, in a way that explains the puzzle of the observed enhancement of resonances by decoherence [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 074102 (2001)]. This clarifies both the nature of the coherent evolution, and the way in which decoherence disrupts it.

quant-ph