Non-equilibrium dynamics and many body localization in ultracold atoms
Abstract
There is immense interest in using assemblies of ultracold atoms to investigate manybody localization (MBL), a newly discovered, out of equilibrium, dynamical phase ofquantum matter that preserves quantum coherence even at high temperatures. Thisproposal describes theoretical studies aimed at exploring MBL in ultracold atom systems.The proposed research consists of three thrusts. The first explores decoherence, which isthe principal obstruction to the observation of MBL. The PI proposes to develop ageneral theory of decoherence in MBL systems coupled to dissipative environments, andalso to interpret emerging experiments designed to explore MBL using ultracold atoms.The second thrust is focused on using quantum entanglement to yield deeper insights intoMBL, and also to propose cleaner experimental diagnostics of the key phenomena. Thethird and final thrust is focused on systems with long range interactions that decay aspower laws in real space (such as the dipolar interactions in assemblies of polarmolecules), and seeks to investigate whether such systems can host MBL.The research will be carried out via a mix of analytical calculations and numericalsimulations – a strategy with which the PI has previously had success. The research willyield insight into poorly understood conceptual issues that must be resolved to makecontact between theory and experiment in this field, and will provide theoretical guidancefor emerging experiments in this field. This fundamental theory research may thus openup a new avenue for constructing quantum devices that use MBL to preserve quantumcoherence at high temperatures, leading to a new generation of quantum technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 28, 2017
- Source ID
- FA95501710183
Entities
People
- Rahul Nandkishore
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Regents of the University of Colorado
- United States Air Force