arXiv subjects

Maxim A. Efremov

Publications and source records attributed to Maxim A. Efremov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Observation of Phase Space Dynamics of Inverted Harmonic Oscillator

We have experimentally realized a parabolic potential barrier for surface gravity water waves. The analogy between the resulting wave equation and the Schrodinger equation for the inverted harmonic oscillator (IHO) enables us to study the propagation of quantum-mechanical wave packets with different average energies in this iconic scattering model. We observe a clear boundary in the phase-space dynamics, namely the separatrix, which distinguishes wave packets with energies below the maximum of the IHO potential from those with energies above it. In the former case, the wave packet is blocked, whereas in the latter case, it is transmitted. We also measure the corresponding variation in momentum during this process.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv2026

Signatures of the circular Unruh effect in electric and magnetic dipole transitions of multilevel atoms

The circular Unruh effect is the excitation of a detector moving along a planar circular trajectory within an electromagnetic vacuum. We demonstrate that the magnetic dipole transitions in an atom, acting as the detector, dominate the electric dipole transitions. Our analysis of both free-space and cavity schemes shows that the sensitivity to the circular Unruh effect can be maximized by balancing the minimization of mode volume against the resulting decrease in mode density. Moreover, we propose a novel measurement scheme that uses the atom's multilevel structure to suppress the spontaneous emission rate, thereby enabling the experimental detection of the circular Unruh effect.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Mach-Zehnder interferometer for in-situ characterization of atom traps

Manipulating cold atoms in traps is a key tool for numerous realizations of quantum simulators and quantum sensors. They require accurate modeling and characterization of the underlying trapping potentials. We introduce a technique based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer for in-situ characterization of weakly anharmonic potentials. By simulating the interferometer in an optical dipole trap, we can accurately determine its trap frequency and upper bounds onto anharmonicity magnitudes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Confinement-Induced Resonances in Spherical Shell Traps

The energy spectrum and corresponding wave functions of two bosonic particles confined in a spherically symmetric shell trap and interacting via a three-dimensional zero-range potential are computed. Confinement-induced resonances, originating entirely from the strong coupling of the relative and center-of-mass motions of the two particles, are identified as avoided crossings for certain values of the shell radius. By working close to the found resonances, these results offer a new way to control the atom-atom interaction in an atomic gas by tuning only the geometrical parameters of the shell.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Optimal Diffractive Focusing of Quantum Waves

Following the familiar analogy between the optical paraxial wave equation and the Schrödinger equation, we derive the optimal, real-valued wave function for focusing in one and two space dimensions without the use of any phase component. We compare and contrast the focusing parameters of the optimal waves with those of other diffractive focusing approaches, such as Fresnel zones. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate these focusing properties on optical beams using both reflective and transmissive liquid crystal devices. Our results provide an alternative direction for focusing waves where phase elements are challenging to implement, such as for X-rays, THz radiation, and electron beams.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Borromean states in a one-dimensional three-body system

We show the existence of Borromean bound states in a one-dimensional quantum three-body system composed of two identical bosons and a distinguishable particle. It is assumed that there is no interaction between the two bosons, while the mass-imbalanced two-body subsystems can be tuned to be either bound or unbound. Within the framework of the Faddeev equations, the three-body spectrum and the corresponding wave functions are computed numerically. In addition, we identify the parameter-space region for the two-body interaction, where the Borromean states occur, evaluate their geometric properties, and investigate their dependence on the mass ratio.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Perspective on Quantum Bubbles in Microgravity

Progress in understanding quantum systems has been driven by the exploration of the geometry, topology, and dimensionality of ultracold atomic systems. The NASA Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) aboard the International Space Station has enabled the study of ultracold atomic bubbles, a terrestrially-inaccessible topology. Proof-of-principle bubble experiments have been performed on CAL with an rf-dressing technique; an alternate technique (dual-species interaction-driven bubbles) has also been proposed. Both techniques can drive discovery in the next decade of fundamental physics research in microgravity.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Matter-wave lensing of shell-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates

Motivated by the recent experimental realization of ultracold quantum gases in shell topology, we propose a straightforward implementation of matter-wave lensing techniques for shell-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates. This approach allows to significantly extend the observation time of the condensate shell during its free expansion and enables the study of novel quantum many-body effects on curved geometries. With both analytical and numerical methods we derive optimal parameters for realistic lensing schemes to conserve the shell shape of the condensate for times up to hundreds of milliseconds.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Perspectives and Opportunities: A Molecular Toolkit for Fundamental Physics and Matter Wave Interferometry in Microgravity

The study of molecular physics using ultracold gases has provided a unique probe into the fundamental properties of nature and offers new tools for quantum technologies. In this article we outline how the use of a space environment to study ultracold molecular physics opens opportunities for 1) exploring ultra-low energy regimes of molecular physics with high efficiency, 2) providing a toolbox of capabilities for fundamental physics, and 3) enabling new classes of matter-wave interferometers with applications in precision measurement for fundamental and many-body physics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Diffractive focusing of a uniform Bose-Einstein condensate

We propose a straightforward implementation of the phenomenon of diffractive focusing with uniform atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Both, analytical as well as numerical methods not only illustrate the influence of the atom-atom interaction on the focusing factor and the focus time, but also allow us to derive the optimal conditions for observing focusing of this type in the case of interacting matter waves.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Proof of universality in one-dimensional few-body systems including anisotropic interactions

We provide an analytical proof of universality for bound states in one-dimensional systems of two and three particles, valid for short-range interactions with negative or vanishing integral over space. The proof is performed in the limit of weak pair-interactions and covers both binding energies and wave functions. Moreover, in this limit the results are formally shown to converge to the respective ones found in the case of the zero-range contact interaction.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Universality of excited three-body bound states in one dimension

We study a heavy-heavy-light three-body system confined to one space dimension provided the binding energy of an excited state in the heavy-light subsystems approaches zero. The associated two-body system is characterized by (i) the structure of the weakly-bound excited heavy-light state and (ii) the presence of deeply-bound heavy-light states. The consequences of these aspects for the behavior of the three-body system are analyzed. We find strong indication for universal behavior of both three-body binding energies and wave functions for different weakly-bound excited states in the heavy-light subsystems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Diffractive Guiding of Waves by a Periodic Array of Slits

We show that in order to guide waves, it is sufficient to periodically truncate their edges. The modes supported by this type of wave guide propagate freely between the slits, and the propagation pattern repeats itself. We experimentally demonstrate this general wave phenomenon for two types of waves: (i) plasmonic waves propagating on a metal-air interface that are periodically blocked by nanometric metallic walls, and (ii) surface gravity water waves whose evolution is recorded, the packet is truncated, and generated again to show repeated patterns. This guiding concept is applicable for a wide variety of waves.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Projectile motion of surface gravity water wave packets: An analogy to quantum mechanics

We study phase contributions of wave functions that occur in the evolution of Gaussian surface gravity water wave packets with nonzero initial momenta propagating in the presence and absence of an effective external linear potential. Our approach takes advantage of the fact that in contrast to matter waves, water waves allow us to measure both their amplitudes and phases.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Atom interferometry and its applications

We provide an introduction into the field of atom optics and review our work on interferometry with cold atoms, and in particular with Bose-Einstein condensates. Here we emphasize applications of atom interferometry with sources of this kind. We discuss tests of the equivalence principle, a quantum tiltmeter, and a gravimeter.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

The Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory

Microgravity eases several constraints limiting experiments with ultracold and condensed atoms on ground. It enables extended times of flight without suspension and eliminates the gravitational sag for trapped atoms. These advantages motivated numerous initiatives to adapt and operate experimental setups on microgravity platforms. We describe the design of the payload, motivations for design choices, and capabilities of the Bose-Einstein Condensate and Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL), a NASA-DLR collaboration. BECCAL builds on the heritage of previous devices operated in microgravity, features rubidium and potassium, multiple options for magnetic and optical trapping, different methods for coherent manipulation, and will offer new perspectives for experiments on quantum optics, atom optics, and atom interferometry in the unique microgravity environment on board the International Space Station.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2019

Universality in a one-dimensional three-body system

We study a heavy-heavy-light three-body system confined to one space dimension. Both binding energies and corresponding wave functions are obtained for (i) the zero-range, and (ii) two finite-range attractive heavy-light interaction potentials. In case of the zero-range potential, we apply the method of Skorniakov and Ter-Martirosian to explore the accuracy of the Born-Oppenheimer approach. For the finite-range potentials, we solve the Schrödinger equation numerically using a pseudospectral method. We demonstrate that when the two-body ground state energy approaches zero, the three-body bound states display a universal behavior, independent of the shape of the interaction potential.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Efficient description of Bose-Einstein condensates in time-dependent rotating traps

Quantum sensors based on matter-wave interferometry are promising candidates for high-precision gravimetry and inertial sensing in space. The favorable source for the coherent matter waves in these devices are Bose-Einstein condensates. A reliable prediction of their dynamics, which is governed by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, requires suitable analytical and numerical methods which take into account the center-of-mass motion of the condensate, its rotation and its spatial expansion by many orders of magnitude. In this chapter, we present an efficient way to study their dynamics in time-dependent rotating traps that meet this objective. Both, an approximate analytical solution for condensates in the Thomas-Fermi regime and dedicated numerical simulations on a variable adapted grid are discussed. We contrast and relate our approach to previous alternative methods and provide further results, such as analytical expressions for the one- and two-dimensional spatial density distributions and the momentum distribution in the long-time limit that are of immediate interest to experimentalists working in this field of research.

quant-ph↗