HARNESSING ENTANGLEMENT IN ULTRACOLD ATOMIC GASES
Abstract
In an atomic sodium gas cooled to ultracold temperatures, atoms behave like small magnets that change their orientation when they collide with each other. In a gas at room temperature, the collisions happen randomly and uncontrollably. But if the sodium gas cloud is cooled all the way down into the nanokelvin regime to about 0.00000001 degrees above absolute zero temperature, the collisions happen predictably and can be controlled via microwaves. The atomic magnets become correlated in this process. This correlation is what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance” now known as quantum entanglement. In this research program, we propose to combine the microwave control of collisions that generate entanglement with light-pulse atom interferometry, where the atomic gas cloud is split and recombined along different pathways.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010071
Entities
People
- Arne Schwettmann
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Oklahoma