Harnessing coherent control of tunneling: Spatial adiabatic passage and atomic interferometry with ultracold atoms in optical tweezers

by Prof. Yoav Sagi

Technion Israel Institute of Technology

at Condensed Matter Seminar

Mon, 03 Jun 2024, 11:10
Sacta-Rashi Building for Physics (54), room 207

Abstract

Optical tweezers can trap and manipulate single atoms, offering significant potential for advancing technologies in quantum computation, simulation, and sensing. Recently, we have developed a new tweezer array apparatus focused on using fermionic atoms and harnessing tunneling for quantum logic and wave-packet control. In this talk, I will present an experiment demonstrating spatial adiabatic transport of atoms across three tweezers through precise control of coherent tunneling. I will explain how such adiabatic processes can be generalized to implement topological pumps and atomic beam splitters, the latter being key elements in atomic interferometry. Furthermore, I will propose a new guided atomic interferometry technique based on optical tweezers, which allows for extended probing times, sub-micrometer positioning accuracy, and increased flexibility in shaping atomic trajectories. Using fermionic atoms offers the advantages of achieving single-atom occupation of vibrational states and reducing mean-field shifts. I will discuss two applications ideally suited for the unique capabilities of the tweezer interferometer: measuring gravitational forces and studying Casimir-Polder forces between atoms and surfaces. Finally, I will explain how tweezer-based atomic interferometry can be extended to perform clock interferometry, potentially testing the quantum twin paradox and examining quantum coherence in the context of gravitational time dilation for the first time.

Created on 27-05-2024 by Naamneh, Muntaser (mnaamneh)
Updaded on 27-05-2024 by Naamneh, Muntaser (mnaamneh)