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Peter Zoller

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Zoller.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Dynamical Phase Transitions and Instabilities in Open Atomic Many-Body Systems

We discuss an open driven-dissipative many-body system, in which the competition of unitary Hamiltonian and dissipative Liouvillian dynamics leads to a nonequilibrium phase transition. It shares features of a quantum phase transition in that it is interaction driven, and of a classical phase transition, in that the ordered phase is continuously connected to a thermal state. Within a generalized Gutzwiller approach which includes the description of mixed state density matrices, we characterize the complete phase diagram and the critical behavior at the phase transition approached as a function of time. We find a novel fluctuation induced dynamical instability, which occurs at long wavelength as a consequence of a subtle dissipative renormalization effect on the speed of sound.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

Universal rates for reactive ultracold polar molecules in reduced dimensions

Analytic expressions describe universal elastic and reactive rates of quasi-two-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional collisions of highly reactive ultracold molecules interacting by a van der Waals potential. Exact and approximate calculations for the example species of KRb show that stability and evaporative cooling can be realized for spin-polarized fermions at moderate dipole and trapping strength, whereas bosons or unlike fermions require significantly higher dipole or trapping strengths.

physics.atom-ph↗

Efficient quantum repeater based on deterministic Rydberg gates

We propose an efficient quantum repeater architecture with mesoscopic atomic ensembles, where the Rydberg blockade is employed for deterministic local entanglement generation, entanglement swapping and entanglement purification. Compared with conventional atomic-ensemble-based quantum repeater, the entanglement distribution rate is improved by up to two orders of magnitude with the help of the deterministic Rydberg gate. This new quantum repeater scheme is robust and fast, and thus opens up a new way for practical long-distance quantum communication.

quant-ph↗

Hybrid quantum devices and quantum engineering

We discuss prospects of building hybrid quantum devices involving elements of atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics and solid state elements with the attempt to combine advantages of the respective systems in compatible experimental setups. In particular, we summarize our recent work on quantum hybrid devices and briefly discuss recent ideas for quantum networks. These include interfacing of molecular quantum memory with circuit QED, and using nanomechanical elements strongly coupled to qubits represented by electronic spins, as well as single atoms or atomic ensembles.

quant-ph↗

Alkaline-Earth-Metal Atoms as Few-Qubit Quantum Registers

We propose and analyze a novel approach to quantum information processing, in which multiple qubits can be encoded and manipulated using electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom associated with individual alkaline-earth atoms trapped in an optical lattice. Specifically, we describe how the qubits within each register can be individually manipulated and measured with sub-wavelength optical resolution. We also show how such few-qubit registers can be coupled to each other in optical superlattices via conditional tunneling to form a scalable quantum network. Finally, potential applications to quantum computation and precision measurements are discussed.

quant-ph↗

Dipole oscillations of confined lattice bosons in one dimension

We study the dynamics of a non-integrable system comprising interacting cold bosons trapped in an optical lattice in one-dimension by means of exact time-dependent numerical DMRG techniques. Particles are confined by a parabolic potential, and dipole oscillations are induced by displacing the trap center of a few lattice sites. Depending on the system parameters this motion can vary from undamped to overdamped. We study the dipole oscillations as a function of the lattice displacement, the particle density and the strength of interparticle interactions. These results explain the recent experiment C.D. Fertig et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 120403 (2005).

cond-mat.other↗

Quantum computing with alkaline earth atoms

We present a complete scheme for quantum information processing using the unique features of alkaline earth atoms. We show how two completely independent lattices can be formed for the $^1$S$_0$ and $^3$P$_0$ states, with one used as a storage lattice for qubits encoded on the nuclear spin, and the other as a transport lattice to move qubits and perform gate operations. We discuss how the $^3$P$_2$ level can be used for addressing of individual qubits, and how collisional losses from metastable states can be used to perform gates via a lossy blockade mechanism.

quant-ph↗

Theory of cavity-assisted microwave cooling of polar molecules

We analyze cavity-assisted cooling schemes for polar molecules in the microwave domain, where molecules are excited on a rotational transition and energy is dissipated via strong interactions with a lossy stripline cavity, as recently proposed by A. Andre et al., Nature Physics 2, 636 (2006). We identify the dominant cooling and heating mechanisms in this setup and study cooling rates and final temperatures in various parameter regimes. In particular we analyze the effects of a finite environment temperature on the cooling efficiency, and find minimal temperature and optimized cooling rate in the strong drive regime. Further we discuss the trade-off between efficiency of cavity cooling and robustness with respect to ubiquitous imperfections in a realistic experimental setup, such as anharmonicity of the trapping potential.

quant-ph↗

Coherent Quantum Optical Control with Subwavelength Resolution

We suggest a new method for quantum optical control with nanoscale resolution. Our method allows for coherent far-field manipulation of individual quantum systems with spatial selectivity that is not limited by the wavelength of radiation and can, in principle, approach a few nanometers. The selectivity is enabled by the nonlinear atomic response, under the conditions of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency, to a control beam with intensity vanishing at a certain location. Practical performance of this technique and its potential applications to quantum information science with cold atoms, ions, and solid-state qubits are discussed.

quant-ph↗

Anyonic interferometry and protected memories in atomic spin lattices

Strongly correlated quantum systems can exhibit exotic behavior called topological order which is characterized by non-local correlations that depend on the system topology. Such systems can exhibit remarkable phenomena such as quasi-particles with anyonic statistics and have been proposed as candidates for naturally fault-tolerant quantum computation. Despite these remarkable properties, anyons have never been observed in nature directly. Here we describe how to unambiguously detect and characterize such states in recently proposed spin lattice realizations using ultra-cold atoms or molecules trapped in an optical lattice. We propose an experimentally feasible technique to access non-local degrees of freedom by performing global operations on trapped spins mediated by an optical cavity mode. We show how to reliably read and write topologically protected quantum memory using an atomic or photonic qubit. Furthermore, our technique can be used to probe statistics and dynamics of anyonic excitations.

quant-ph↗

Designing spin-1 lattice models using polar molecules

We describe how to design a large class of always on spin-1 interactions between polar molecules trapped in an optical lattice. The spin degrees of freedom correspond to the hyperfine levels of a ro-vibrational ground state molecule. Interactions are induced using a microwave field to mix ground states in one hyperfine manifold with the spin entangled dipole-dipole coupled excited states. Using multiple fields anistropic models in one, two, or three dimensions, can be built with tunable spatial range. An illustrative example in one dimension is the generalized Haldane model, which at a specific parameter has a gapped valence bond solid ground state. The interaction strengths are large compared to decoherence rates and should allow for probing the rich phase structure of strongly correlated systems, including dimerized and gapped phases.

quant-ph↗

d-wave resonating valence bond states of fermionic atoms in optical lattices

We study controlled generation and measurement of superfluid d-wave resonating valence bond (RVB) states of fermionic atoms in 2D optical lattices. Starting from loading spatial and spin patterns of atoms in optical superlattices as pure quantum states from a Fermi gas, we adiabatically transform this state to an RVB state by change of the lattice parameters. Results of exact time-dependent numerical studies for ladders systems are presented, suggesting generation of RVB states on timescale smaller than typical experimental decoherence times.

cond-mat.str-el↗

Dynamics of a Quantum Phase Transition

We present two approaches to the dynamics of a quench-induced phase transition in quantum Ising model. The first one retraces steps of the standard approach to thermodynamic second order phase transitions in the quantum setting. The second one is purely quantum, based on the Landau-Zener formula for transition probabilities in avoided level crossings. We show that the two approaches yield compatible results for the scaling of the defect density with the quench rate. We exhibit similarities between them, and comment on the insights they give into dynamics of quantum phase transitions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

Feedback cooling of a single trapped ion

Based on a real-time measurement of the motion of a single ion in a Paul trap, we demonstrate its electro-mechanical cooling below the Doppler limit by homodyne feedback control (cold damping). The feedback cooling results are well described by a model based on a quantum mechanical Master Equation.

quant-ph↗

Quantum limited velocity readout and quantum feedback cooling of a trapped ion via electromagnetically induced transparency

We discuss continuous observation of the momentum of a single atom by employing the high velocity sensitivity of the index of refraction in a driven $Λ$-system based on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). In the ideal limit of unit collection efficiency this provides a quantum limited measurement with minimal backaction on the atomic motion. A feedback loop, which drives the atom with a force proportional to measured signal, provides a cooling mechanism for the atomic motion. We derive the master equation which describes the feedback cooling and show that in the Lamb-Dicke limit the steady state energies are close to the ground state, limited only by the photon collection efficiency. Outside of the Lamb-Dicke regime the predicted temperatures are well below the Doppler limit.

quant-ph↗

Spin-Dependent Hubbard Model and a Quantum Phase Transition in Cold Atoms

We describe an experimental protocol for introducing spin-dependent lattice structure in a cold atomic fermi gas using lasers. It can be used to realize Hubbard models whose hopping parameters depend on spin and whose interaction strength can be controlled with an external magnetic field. We suggest that exotic superfluidities will arise in this framework. An especially interesting possibility is a class of states that support coexisting superfluid and normal components, even at zero temperature. The quantity of normal component varies with external parameters. We discuss some aspects of the quantum phase transition that arises at the point where it vanishes.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

Ground state cooling of mechanical resonators

We propose an application of a single Cooper pair box (Josephson qubit) for active cooling of nanomechanical resonators. Latest experiments with Josephson qubits demonstrated that long coherence time of the order of microsecond can be achieved in special symmetry points. Here we show that this level of coherence is sufficient to perform an analog of the well known in quantum optics ``laser'' cooling of a nanomechanical resonator capacitively coupled to the qubit. By applying an AC driving to the qubit or the resonator, resonators with frequency of order 100 MHz and quality factors higher than $10^3$ can be efficiently cooled down to their ground state, while lower frequency resonators can be cooled down to micro-Kelvin temperatures. We also consider an alternative setup where DC-voltage-induced Josephson oscillations play the role of the AC driving and show that cooling is possible in this case as well.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Long-distance quantum communication with atomic ensembles and linear optics

Quantum communication holds a promise for absolutely secure transmission of secret messages and faithful transfer of unknown quantum states. Photonic channels appear to be very attractive for physical implementation of quantum communication. However, due to losses and decoherence in the channel, the communication fidelity decreases exponentially with the channel length. We describe a scheme that allows to implement robust quantum communication over long lossy channels. The scheme involves laser manipulation of atomic ensembles, beam splitters, and single-photon detectors with moderate efficiencies, and therefore well fits the status of the current experimental technology. We show that the communication efficiency scale polynomially with the channel length thereby facilitating scalability to very long distances.

quant-ph↗