From Nanoscale Systems to Ultracold Atoms and Molecules, and Back
Abstract
We carried out a comprehensive program in atomic, molecular and optical physics that also has the potential to lead to significant advantages in quantum metrology, the emerging field of quantum acoustics, and quantum thermodynamics. This project lies at the boundary between two fields that have witnessed extraordinary progress in the last few years. The first is ultracold atomic science and the second is quantum optomechanics, this latter area relying significantly on major advances in nanoscience and nanofabrication. We can expect significant science and engineering applications to result from the merging of these two fields, using in particular hybrid arrangements consisting of optomechanical nanoscale devices operating deep in the quantum regime and coupled to atoms, molecules, artificial atoms, or quantum degenerate atomic systems. Promising directions include the quantum control of mechanical devices by atomic systems and new approaches to quantum metrology. Quantum optomechanical systems may also provide a deeper understanding of the quantum-classical interface and of the fundamental physics of decoherence, and may help shed light on the foundations of thermodynamics at the quantum level, including e.g. the role of quantum correlations and the impact of quantum measurement backaction on the efficiency of heat engines.This may in the future result in nano-engineering applications such as quantum heat pumps and autonomous quantum heat engines.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 05, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1027916
Entities
People
- Pierre Meystre
Organizations
- University of Arizona