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Juergen Audretsch

Publications and source records attributed to Juergen Audretsch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Coupled Ito equations of continuous quantum state measurement, and estimation

We discuss a non-linear stochastic master equation that governs the time-evolution of the estimated quantum state. Its differential evolution corresponds to the infinitesimal updates that depend on the time-continuous measurement of the true quantum state. The new stochastic master equation couples to the two standard stochastic differential equations of time-continuous quantum measurement. For the first time, we can prove that the calculated estimate almost always converges to the true state, also at low-efficiency measurements. We show that our single-state theory can be adapted to weak continuous ensemble measurements as well.

quant-ph

Production of heralded pure single photons from imperfect sources using cross phase modulation

Realistic single-photon sources do not generate single photons with certainty. Instead they produce statistical mixtures of photons in Fock states $\ket{1}$ and vacuum (noise). We describe how to eliminate the noise in the output of the sources by means of another noisy source or a coherent state and cross phase modulation (XPM). We present a scheme which announces the production of pure single photons and thus eliminates the vacuum contribution. This is done by verifying a XPM related phase shift with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

quant-ph

Heralded single-photon generation using imperfect single-photon sources and a two-photon-absorbing medium

We propose a setup for a heralded, i.e. announced generation of a pure single-photon state given two imperfect sources whose outputs are represented by mixtures of the single-photon Fock state $\ket{1}$ with the vacuum $\ket{0}$. Our purification scheme uses beam splitters, photodetection and a two-photon-absorbing medium. The admixture of the vacuum is fully eliminated. We discuss two potential realizations of the scheme.

quant-ph

A New Laser Cooling Concept for Molecular Translational Motion

We propose a laser cooling concept for the translational motion of molecules which does not require repeated spontaneous emission by each molecule. The cooling works by repetition of three main steps: velocity selection of a narrow momentum width, deceleration of velocity selected molecules and accumulation of the decelerated molecules by an irreversible process, namely by single spontaneous emission. We develop a cooling model which enables analytical description of the transient populations and entropies for the total molecular system, the center of mass degree of freedom and the internal degrees of freedom. Simulation shows that the cooling process can reduce a large momentum width to a final width which in principle can be arbitrarily small. Center of mass entropy is reduced while the internal entropy is increased after cooling. We show that translational cooling can occur during coherent laser interactions. The entropies change in consistency with the Araki-Lieb inequality.

quant-ph

Evolution of a qubit under the influence of a succession of unsharp measurements

We investigate the evolution of a single qubit subject to a continuous unitary dynamics and an additional interrupting influence which occurs periodically. One may imagine a dynamically evolving closed quantum system which becomes open at certain times. The interrupting influence is represented by an operation, which is assumed to equivalently describe a non-selective unsharp measurement. It may be decomposed into a positive operator, which in case of a measurement represents the pure measurement part, followed by an unitary back-action operator. Equations of motion for the state evolution are derived in the form of difference equations. It is shown that the 'free' Hamiltonian is completed by an averaged Hamiltonian, which goes back to the back-action. The positive operator specifies a decoherence rate and results in a decoherence term. The continuum limit to a master equation is performed. The selective evolution is discussed and correcting higher order terms are worked out in an Appendix.

quant-ph

A sequence of unsharp measurements enabling a real time visualization of a quantum oscillation

The normalized state $\ket{ψ(t)}=c_1(t)\ket{1}+c_2(t)\ket{2}$ of a single two-level system performs oscillations under the influence of a resonant driving field. It is assumed that only one realization of this process is available. We show that it is possible to approximately visualize in real time the evolution of the system as far as it is given by $|c_2(t)|^2$. For this purpose we use a sequence of particular unsharp measurements separated in time. They are specified within the theory of generalized measurements in which observables are represented by positive operator valued measures (POVM). A realization of the unsharp measurements may be obtained by coupling the two-level system to a meter and performing the usual projection measurements on the meter only.

quant-ph

Singular potentials and absorption problem in Quantum Mechanics

We discuss a possible approach to the absorption problem in Quantum Mechanics based on using of singular attractive potentials in the corresponding Schrödinger equations. Possible criteria for selection of exact solutions of these equations are considered and it is shown that different models of absorption can be realized by a special choice of exact solutions. As an example, the motion of charged particles in the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) and the scalar attractive $ρ^{-2}$ potentials is investigated in detail. Other attractive potentials are briefly considered.

quant-ph

Elastic scattering and bound states in the Aharonov-Bohm potential superimposed by an attractive $ρ^{-2}$ potential

We consider the elastic scattering and bound states of charged quantum particles moving in the Aharonov-Bohm and an attractive $ρ^{-2}$ potential in a partial wave approach. Radial solutions of the stationary Schrödinger equation are specified in such a way that the Hamiltonian of the problem is self-adjoint. It is shown that they are not uniquely fixed but depend on open parameters. The related physical consequences are discussed. The scattering cross section is calculated and the energy spectrum of bound states is obtained.

quant-ph

Aharonov-Bohm scattering of charged particles and neutral atoms: the role of absorption

The Aharonov-Bohm scattering of charged particles by the magnetic field of an infinitely long and infinitely thin solenoid (magnetic string) in an absorbing medium is studied. We discuss the partial-wave approach to this problem and show that standard partial-wave method can be adjusted to this case. The effect of absorption leads to oscillations of the AB cross section. Based on this we investigate the scattering of neutral atoms with induced electric dipole moments by a charge wire of finite radius which is placed in an uniform magnetic field. The physical realistic and practically important case that all atoms which collide with the wire are totally absorbed at its surface, is studied in detail. The dominating terms of the scattering amplitude are evaluated analytically for different physical constellations. The rest terms are written in a form suitable for a numerical computation. We show that if the magnetic field is absent, the absorbing charged wire causes oscillations of the cross section. In the presence of the magnetic field the cross section increases and the dominating Aharonov--Bohm peak appears in the forward direction, suppressing the oscillations.

quant-ph

Aharonov-Bohm scattering of neutral atoms with induced electric dipole moments

We investigate the scattering of neutral polarizable atoms from an electrically charged wire placed in a homogeneous magnetic field. The atoms carry an induced electric dipole. The reflecting wire is discussed. We calculate the scattering amplitude and cross section the practically more important case that atoms are totally absorbed at the surface of the wire. If the magnetic field is present, there is a dominating Aharonov-Bohm peak in the forward direction followed by decreasing oscillations for larger angles. An experimental realization of this modulated Aharonov-Bohm scattering should be possible.

quant-ph

Surface effects influencing the single-atom spontaneous emission in a linear atomic chain

As a contribution to quantum optics in the vicinity of surfaces we study the single atom spontaneous emission in a linear chain of two-level atoms. The electromagnetic field is thereby treated with the help of integro-differential equations which take into account the interaction with the other atoms in the chain. The life time of the excited atom, the frequency shift of the atomic transition and the angular distribution of emitted photons are worked out. They depend on the position of the emitting atom. As compared with the single atom in free space, considerable modifications occur for atoms a few interatomic distances away from the ends of the chain.

quant-ph

Shaping an ultracold atomic soliton in a travelling wave laser beam

An ultracold wave packet of bosonic atoms loaded into a travelling laser wave may form a many-atom soliton.This is disturbed by a homogeneous force field, for example by the inevitable gravitation. The wave packet is accelerated and therefore the laser frequency appears to be chirped in the rest frame of the atoms. We derive the effective nonlinear Schrödinger equation. It shows a time dependent nonlinearity coefficient which amounts to a damping or antidamping, respectively. The accelerated packet solution remains a soliton which changes its shape adiabatically. Similarly, an active shaping can be obtained in the force-free case by chirping the laser frequency thus representing a way of coherent control of the soliton form. The experimental consequences are discussed.

cond-mat

Bloch oscillations: atom optical interpretation, realizations, and applications

The cyclic motion of particles in a periodic potential under the influence of a constant external force is analyzed in an atom optical approach based on Landau-Zener transitions between two resonant states. The resulting complex picture of population transfers can be interpreted in an intuitive diagrammatic way. The model is also applied to genuine atom optical systems and its applicability is discussed.

atom-ph

Generalized Unruh effect and Lamb shift for atoms on arbitrary stationary trajectories

We study the spontaneous de-excitation and excitation of accelerated atoms on arbitrary stationary trajectories (``generalized Unruh effect''). We consider the effects of vacuum fluctuations and radiation reaction separately. We show that radiation reaction is generally not altered by stationary acceleration, whereas the contribution of vacuum fluctuations differs for all stationary accelerated trajectories from its inertial value. Spontaneous excitation from the ground state occurs for all { accelerated stationary} trajectories and is therefore the ``normal case''. We furthermore show that the radiative energy shift (``Lamb shift'') of a two-level atom is modified by acceleration for all stationary trajectories. Again only vacuum fluctuations give rise to the shift. Our results are illustrated for the special case of an atom in circular motion, which may be experimentally relevant.

quant-ph

Radiative energy shifts of accelerated atoms

We consider the influence of acceleration on the radiative energy shifts of atoms in Minkowski space. We study a two-level atom coupled to a scalar quantum field. Using a Heisenberg picture approach, we are able to separate the contributions of vacuum fluctuations and radiation reaction to the Lamb shift of the two-level atom. The resulting energy shifts for the special case of a uniformly accelerated atom are then compared with those of an atom at rest.

gr-qc

Relation between energy shifts and relaxation rates for a small system coupled to a reservoir

For a small system the coupling to a reservoir causes energy shifts as well as transitions between the system's energy levels. We show for a general stationary situation that the energy shifts can essentially be reduced to the relaxation rates. The effects of reservoir fluctuations and self reaction are treated separately. We apply the results to a two-level atom coupled to a reservoir which may be the vacuum of a radiation field.

quant-ph

A pragmatic approach to the problem of the self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators with the Aharonov-Bohm potential

We consider the problem of self-adjoint extension of Hamilton operators for charged quantum particles in the pure Aharonov-Bohm potential (infinitely thin solenoid). We present a pragmatic approach to the problem based on the orthogonalization of the radial solutions for different quantum numbers. Then we discuss a model of a scalar particle with a magnetic moment which allows to explain why the self-adjoint extension contains arbitrary parameters and give a physical interpretation.

quant-ph

THE "FREELY" FALLING TWO-LEVEL ATOM IN A RUNNING LASER WAVE

The time evolution of a two-level atom which is simultaneously exposed to the field of a running laser wave and a homogeneous gravitational field is studied. The result of the coupled dynamics of internal transitions and center-of-mass motion is worked out exactly. Neglecting spontaneous emission and performing the rotating wave approximation we derive the complete time evolution operator in an algebraical way by using commutation relations. The result is discussed with respect to the physical implications. In particular the long time and short time behaviour is physically analyzed in detail. The breakdown of the Magnus perturbation expansion is shown.

quant-ph