arXiv subjects

Yann Kiefer

Publications and source records attributed to Yann Kiefer.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Digital programming of spin correlations in a fermionic lattice quantum simulator

Analog quantum simulation provides a highly controlled platform to study diverse quantum many-body phenomena. However, current methods for state initialisation are limited to thermal ensembles or uncorrelated product states. Here we present a hybrid approach that complements analog preparation with a digital quantum-gate protocol. This approach enables the engineering of target states with specific, long-range spin-correlations from the same initial resource state. By applying collisional gates to adiabatically prepared and filtered four-fermion singlet chains, we program diverse spin-correlation patterns, including that of a Heisenberg chain. We measure the spin correlations using a sequence of quantum gates followed by singlet-pair measurements. Our method paves the way to the targeted preparation of strongly correlated states of matter.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2025

Splitting and connecting singlets in atomic quantum circuits

Gate operations composed in quantum circuits form the basis for digital quantum simulation and quantum processing. While two-qubit gates generally operate on nearest neighbours, many circuits require nonlocal connectivity and necessitate some form of quantum information transport. Yet, connecting distant nodes of a quantum processor still remains challenging, particularly for neutral atoms in optical lattices. Here, we create singlet pairs of two magnetic states of fermionic potassium-40 atoms in an optical lattice and use a bi-directional topological Thouless pump to transport, coherently split, and separate the pairs, as well as to demonstrate interaction between them via tuneable $($swap$)^α$-gate operations. We achieve pumping with a single-shift fidelity of 99.78(3)% over 50 lattice sites and split the pairs within a decoherence-free subspace. Gates are implemented by superexchange interaction, allowing us to produce interwoven atomic singlets. For read-out, we apply a magnetic field gradient, resulting in single- and multi-frequency singlet-triplet oscillations. Our work shows avenues to create complex patterns of entanglement and new approaches to quantum processing, sensing, and atom interferometry.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Protected quantum gates using qubit doublons in dynamical optical lattices

Quantum computing represents a central challenge in modern science. Neutral atoms in optical lattices have emerged as a leading computing platform, with collisional gates offering a stable mechanism for quantum logic. However, previous experiments have treated ultracold collisions as a dynamically fine-tuned process, which obscures the underlying quantum- geometry and statistics crucial for realising intrinsically robust operations. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a purely geometric two-qubit swap gate by transiently populating qubit doublon states of fermionic atoms in a dynamical optical lattice. The presence of these doublon states, together with fermionic exchange anti-symmetry, enables a two-particle quantum holonomy -- a geometric evolution where dynamical phases are absent. This yields a gate mechanism that is intrinsically protected against fluctuations and inhomogeneities of the confining potentials. The resilience of the gate is further reinforced by time-reversal and chiral symmetries of the Hamiltonian. We experimentally validate this exceptional protection, achieving a loss-corrected amplitude fidelity of $99.91(7)\%$ measured across the entire system consisting of more than $17'000$ atom pairs. When combined with recently developed topological pumping methods for atom transport, our results pave the way for large-scale, highly connected quantum processors. This work introduces a new paradigm for quantum logic, transforming fundamental symmetries and quantum statistics into a powerful resource for fault-tolerant computation.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Two-colour laser cooling for 40K-87Rb quantum gas mixtures

We present an efficient cooling scheme for fermionic $^{40}{\text{K}}$ atoms, using laser light red and blue detuned with respect to the $\mathcal{D}2$ and $\mathcal{D}1$ principle flourescence lines, respectively. The cooling scheme is found to significantly increase the saturation level for loading of a $^{40}{\text{K}}$ magneto-optical trap (MOT), resulting in increased atom numbers or decreased cycle times. While the attainable $^{40}{\text{K}}$ atom number is approximately doubled if exclusively $^{40}{\text{K}}$ atoms are cooled, the scheme is particularly powerful for dual-species MOTs, for example, if $^{40}{\text{K}}$ and $^{87}{\text{Rb}}$ atoms are cooled simultaneously in the same MOT configuration. The typical atom losses due to light-assisted hetero-nuclear collisions between $^{40}{\text{K}}$ and $^{87}{\text{Rb}}$ seem to be reduced giving rise to a threefold improvement of the $^{40}{\text{K}}$ atom number as compared to that in a conventional dual-species MOT, operating merely with $\mathcal{D}2$ light. Our scheme can be a useful extension to most dual-species experiments, aiming to reach simultaneous degeneracy of both species.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Ultracold Feshbach molecules in an orbital optical lattice

Quantum gas systems provide a unique experimental platform to study a fundamental paradigm of quantum many-body physics: the crossover between Bose-Einstein condensed (BEC) molecular pairs and Bardeen Cooper Schrieffer (BCS) superfluidity. Some studies have considered quantum gas samples confined in optical lattices, however, focusing on the case, when only the lowest Bloch band is populated, such that orbital degrees of freedom are excluded. In this work, for the first time, ultracold Feshbach molecules of fermionic $^{40}K$ atoms are selectively prepared in the second Bloch band of an optical square lattice, covering a wide range of interaction strengths including the regime of unitarity. Binding energies and band relaxation dynamics are measured by means of a method resembling mass spectrometry. The longest lifetimes arise for strongly interacting Feshbach molecules at the onset of unitarity with values around 300 ms for the lowest band and 100 ms for the second band. In the case of strong confinement in a deep lattice potential, we observe bound dimers also for negative values of the s-wave scattering length, extending previous findings for molecules in the lowest band. Our work prepares the stage for orbital BEC-BCS crossover physics.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Route towards classical frustration and band flattening via optical lattice distortion

We propose and experimentally explore a method for realizing frustrated lattice models using a Bose-Einstein condensate held in an optical square lattice. A small lattice distortion opens up an energy gap such the lowest band splits into two. Along the edge of the first Brillouin zone for both bands a nearly flat energy-momentum dispersion is realized. For the excited band a highly degenerate energy minimum arises. By loading ultracold atoms into the excited band, a classically frustrated $XY$ model is formed, describing rotors on a square lattice with competing nearest and next nearest tunnelling couplings. Our experimental optical lattice provides a regime, where a fully coherent Bose-Einstein condensate is observed, and a regime where frustration is expected. If we adiabatically tune from the condensate regime to the regime of frustration, the momentum spectra shows a complete loss of coherence. Upon slowly tuning back to the condensate regime, coherence is largely restored. Good agreement with model calculations is obtained.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗