Quantum simulators with ultracold atoms - mapping out possibilities for new materials
Abstract
The goal of the proposed research is the realization and characterization of new materialsmade of ultracold atoms. These studies are quantum simulations of paradigmatic Hamiltonians,with a special focus on systems for which no controlled computations are possible. Therefore,the experiments perform as analog quantum computers. The goal of the proposed research is the realization and characterization of new materials made of ultracold atoms. These studies are quantum simulations of paradigmatic Hamiltonians, with a special focus on systems for which no controlled computations are possible. Therefore, the experiments perform as analog quantum computers. The systems of interest are topological, magnetic and superfluid materials. Those materials have special quasiparticles including Majorana fermions, anyons, spinons, and d-wave Cooper pairs. The realization and characterization of fundamentally new emergent particles is the major goal of the proposed research. One major focus of study is synthetic gauge fields. Research projects include studies of strong synthetic magnetic fields, new ways of realizing gauge fields using superlattices, spin orbit coupling, spin Hall effect, and stripe order in spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates. With high resolution quantum microscopes, we plan to image edge states and ultimately Majorana fermions. In the area of quantum magnetism, we will realize quantum phase transitions between magnetically ordered phases and reach very low temperatures by implementing novel adiabatic cooling schemes. The longer term goals of our studies of quantum magnetism are the realization of quantum spin liquids and d-wave superfluids. We also explore orbital physics and itinerant ferromagnetism. A new dysprosium experiment allows the implementations of new schemes for synthetic gauge fields based on metastable electronic states, and for quantum magnetism based on direct magnetic coupling between the strong magnetic moments. The big impact of the proposed research could be new insight into new classes of quasiparticles including Majorana fermions and anyons with implications for topological quantum computation. The general impact is new insight into material properties and concepts for future design of materials and devices, and the training of the next generation of high performing researchers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 23, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612815
Entities
People
- Wolfgang Ketterle
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy