JILA Science Seminar

Demonstrating beam splitters for reaction pathways in the field of cold chemistry

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Our group studies chemical reactions of ultracold Rb atoms in a state-to-state
resolved fashion, where we prepare reactants in well defined quantum states and
measure the quantum states of the molecular products. In particular, we focus on
three-body recombination where three atoms collide, forming a diatomic molecule.
The  third   atom carries  away  part  of  the  binding   energy.   We are  currently
investigating methods to gain control over this chemical reaction. By making use of

Open dynamics with non-Gaussian states, and a Long-range Rydberg-ion molecule in a Paul trap

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Abstract: In this talk, I’ll discuss a new framework to simulate the open dynamics of many-boson quantum systems. We use a superposition of squeezed-displaced states as a non-Gaussian state (NGS) ansatz. It is not restricted to a low excitation subspace, and can describe a variety of interesting quantum states (eg. squeezed cat states).

Optical cavities for quantum information science and precision gravity measurements

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Neutral atoms have emerged in recent years as a leading qubit candidate for quantum computing. Atom interferometers, meanwhile, provide precise measurements of very weak gravitational forces. Both of these applications use optical fields to write-in / read-out information, as well as to trap and manipulate the atoms. Optical resonators have been used to enhance such atom-photon interactions, constituting the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED).

Adiabatic passage and geometric phases: are they hot or not?

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In this informal seminar I will present an appraisal of adiabatic passage which transforms quantum states much better than one should expect (and I will explain why this is the case). And I will discuss an often stated claim that geometric phases, used in many  gate proposals for quantum computing, are particularly robust because of their geometric character (and I will explain why I think this is not the case).

Coherent Control of Metastable States - A View from Behind the Computer Screen

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Creating, understanding, and controlling metastable states of quantum matter is highly interesting due to the prospects of enabling ultrafast and energy efficient devices with novel functionality. Recent estimates indicates that non-thermal pathways to metastable phases may require several orders of magnitude less energy than a thermally driven process. In addition, hidden states of matter may be accessed if a system out of equilibrium follow trajectories to a state inaccessible, or nonexistent, under normal equilibrium conditions.

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