arXiv subjects

Sebastian Eppelt

Publications and source records attributed to Sebastian Eppelt.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

An optical cryostat for automated testing of silicon photomultipliers with vacuum-ultraviolet light

We present the design and performance of an optical cryostat for testing silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) light. The cryostat operates within a temperature range of 120 to 340 K, achieving a temperature stability of 1.2 mK, measured in a rolling 10-minute window once settled within a liquid nitrogen fill-cycle, and 13.8 mK over a complete fill-cycle including the refill transient. The cryostat includes a VUV-transparent CaF$_2$ viewport with a 142 mm diameter clear aperture, which limits the optically accessible sample area to 158 cm$^2$. The viewport is integrated into a sealed dark box and optical table to facilitate light delivery. VUV illumination is achieved using a custom xenon scintillation lamp or a xenon flash lamp, with a motorized two-axis linear rail system ensuring precise light positioning over the sample. This paper details the cryostat and optical system design, as well as commissioning current-voltage (IV) measurements using Hamamatsu VUV-sensitive SiPMs from 165 to 295 K and a measurement of the photodetection efficiency at 165 K.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Controlled symmetry breaking of the Fermi surface in ultracold polar molecules

Long-range anisotropic dipole-dipole interactions between ultracold polar molecules are predicted to drive exotic quantum phases, yet direct many-body signatures of these interactions in degenerate Fermi gases have remained elusive. Here, we report the observation of an interaction-induced controlled deformation of the Fermi surface, providing a clear many-body signature in a deeply degenerate Fermi gas of $^{23}\text{Na}^{40}\text{K}$ molecules. Using double microwave (MW) shielding, we prepare $8 \times 10^3$ molecules at $0.23(1)$ times the Fermi temperature, achieving a three-fold suppression of inelastic losses compared to single MW shielding while preserving strong elastic dipolar scattering. We observe Fermi surface deformations of up to $7\,\%$, more than two times larger than those observed in magnetic atoms, despite operating at two orders of magnitude lower densities. Crucially, we demonstrate continuous tuning of the interaction potential from axial U(1) to biaxial C$_{2}$ symmetry, directly imprinting this geometry onto the Fermi surface. We find excellent agreement between our experimental results and parameter-free Hartree-Fock theory. These results establish MW-shielded polar molecules as a highly tunable platform for exploring strongly correlated dipolar Fermi matter and offer a promising path towards topological superfluidity.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2025

Generation of strong ultralow-phase-noise microwave fields with tunable ellipticity for ultracold polar molecules

Microwave(MW) fields with strong field strength, ultralow phase-noise and tunable polarization are crucial for stabilizing and manipulating ultracold polar molecules, which have emerged as a promising platform for quantum sciences. In this letter, we present the design, characterization, and performance of a robust MW setup tailored for precise control of molecular states. This setup achieves a high electric field intensity of 6.9 kV/m in the near-field from a dual-feed waveguide antenna, enabling a Rabi frequency as high as 71 MHz for the rotational transition of sodium-potassium molecules. In addition, the low noise signal source and controlled electronics provide ultralow phase-noise and dynamically tunable polarization. Narrow-band filters within the MW circuitry further reduce phase-noise by more than 20 dB at 20 MHz offset frequency, ensuring prolonged one-body molecular lifetimes up to 10 seconds. We also show practical methods to measure the MW field strength and polarization using a simple homemade dipole probe, and to characterize phase-noise down to -170 dBc/Hz with a commercial spectrum analyser and a notch filter. Those capabilities allowed us to evaporatively cool our molecular sample to deep quantum degeneracy. Furthermore, the polarization tunability enabled the observation of field-linked resonances and facilitated the creation of field-linked tetramers.These techniques advance the study of ultracold polar molecules and broaden the potential applications of MW tools in other platforms of quantum sciences.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Simulations of evaporation to deep Fermi degeneracy in microwave-shielded molecules

In the quest toward realizing novel quantum matter in ultracold molecular gases, we perform a numerical study of evaporative cooling in ultracold gases of microwave-shielded polar fermionic molecules. Our Monte Carlo simulations incorporate accurate two-body elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections, realistic modeling of the optical dipole trap, and the influence of Pauli blocking at low temperatures. The simulations are benchmarked against data from evaporation studies performed with ultracold NaK molecules, showing excellent agreement. We further explore the prospects for optimizing the evaporation efficiency by varying the ramp rate and duration of the evaporation trajectory. Our simulation shows that it is possible to reach $< 10\%$ of the Fermi temperature under optimal conditions even in the presence of two-body molecular losses.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Ultracold field-linked tetratomic molecules

Ultracold polyatomic molecules offer intriguing new opportunities in cold chemistry, precision measurements, and quantum information processing, thanks to their rich internal structure. However, their increased complexity compared to diatomic molecules presents a formidable challenge to employ conventional cooling techniques. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to create ultracold polyatomic molecules by electroassociation in a degenerate Fermi gas of microwave-dressed polar molecules through a field-linked resonance. Starting from ground state NaK molecules, we create around $1.1\times 10^3$ tetratomic (NaK)$_2$ molecules, with a phase space density of $0.040(3)$ at a temperature of $134(3)\,\text{nK}$, more than $3000$ times colder than previously realized tetratomic molecules. We observe a maximum tetramer lifetime of $8(2)\,\text{ms}$ in free space without a notable change in the presence of an optical dipole trap, indicating these tetramers are collisionally stable. The measured binding energy and lifetime agree well with parameter-free calculations, which outlines pathways to further increase the lifetime of the tetramers. Moreover, we directly image the dissociated tetramers through microwave-field modulation to probe the anisotropy of their wave function in momentum space. Our result demonstrates a universal tool for assembling ultracold polyatomic molecules from smaller polar molecules, which is a crucial step towards Bose--Einstein condensation (BEC) of polyatomic molecules and towards a new crossover from a dipolar Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid to a BEC of tetramers. Additionally, the long-lived FL state provides an ideal starting point for deterministic optical transfer to deeply bound tetramer states.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Field-linked resonances of polar molecules

Scattering resonances are an essential tool for controlling interactions of ultracold atoms and molecules. However, conventional Feshbach scattering resonances, which have been extensively studied in various platforms, are not expected to exist in most ultracold polar molecules due to the fast loss that occurs when two molecules approach at a close distance. Here, we demonstrate a new type of scattering resonances that is universal for a wide range of polar molecules. The so-called field-linked resonances occur in the scattering of microwave-dressed molecules due to stable macroscopic tetramer states in the intermolecular potential. We identify two resonances between ultracold ground-state sodium-potassium molecules and use the microwave frequencies and polarizations to tune the inelastic collision rate by three orders of magnitude, from the unitary limit to well below the universal regime. The field-linked resonance provides a tuning knob to independently control the elastic contact interaction and the dipole-dipole interaction, which we observe as a modification in the thermalization rate. Our result provides a general strategy for resonant scattering between ultracold polar molecules, which paves the way for realizing dipolar superfluids and molecular supersolids as well as assembling ultracold polyatomic molecules.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Entangling single atoms over 33 km telecom fibre

Heralded entanglement between distant quantum memories is the key resource for quantum networks. Based on quantum repeater protocols, these networks will facilitate efficient large-scale quantum communication and distributed quantum computing. However, despite vast efforts, long-distance fibre based network links have not been realized yet. Here we present results demonstrating heralded entanglement between two independent, remote single-atom quantum memories generated over fibre links with a total length up to 33 km. To overcome the attenuation losses in the long optical fibres of photons initially emitted by the Rubidium quantum memories, we employ polarization-preserving quantum frequency conversion to the low loss telecom band. The presented work represents a milestone towards the realization of efficient quantum network links.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Experimental device-independent quantum key distribution between distant users

Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) is the art of using untrusted devices to establish secret keys over an untrusted channel. So far, the real-world implementation of DIQKD remains a major challenge, as it requires the demonstration of a loophole-free Bell test across two remote locations with very high quality entanglement to ensure secure key exchange. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the distribution of a secure key -- based on asymptotic security estimates -- in a fully device-independent way between two users separated by 400 metres. The experiment is based on heralded entanglement between two independently trapped single Rubidium 87 atoms. The implementation of a robust DIQKD protocol indicates an expected secret key rate of r=0.07 per entanglement generation event and r>0 with a probability error of 3%. Furthermore, we analyse the experiment's capability to distribute a secret key with finite-size security against collective attacks.

quant-ph↗