Strongly correlated quantum walks in optical lattices

Abstract

Generations of physics students have been taught to think of one-dimensional random walks in terms of a drunken sailor taking random steps to the right or to the left. But that doesn't compare with the complexity of a quantum walker, who can propagate down multiple paths at the same time. Preiss et al. detected particles in single sites of an optical lattice to study the dynamics of two interacting atoms of 87Rb performing a quantum walk (see the Perspective by Widera). Depending on the initial conditions and the interaction strength between the atoms, the atoms either ignored each other, stuck to each other, or tried to get as far away from each other as possible.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Mar 13, 2015
Source ID
10.1126/science.1260364

Entities

People

  • Alexander Lukin
  • M. Eric Tai
  • Markus Greiner
  • Matthew Rispoli
  • Philip Zupancic
  • Philipp M. Preiss
  • Rajibul Islam
  • Ruichao Ma
  • Yoav Lahini

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Army Research Office
  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Harvard University
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Science Foundation
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Mathematical Modeling and Probability Theory.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Quantum Computing