Nondestructive imaging of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) presents new opportunities for observing and manipulating macroscopic quantum phenomena in real time. In this talk I theoretically study harmonically trapped two-component BECs subject to weak measurement via phase contrast imaging. I discuss the application of weak measurement theory to spatially extended condensates and present a stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the condensate order parameter. I then examine the stability of spin-polarized and spin-unpolarized phases of the condensate subject to continuous weak measurement. Additionally, I demonstrate how weak measurement can be used to track the position of a domain wall between spin-polarized regions. I quantify the effects of measurement backaction on the stochastic dynamics of the domain wall and discuss how domain wall dynamics could be observed in experiment.Nondestructive imaging of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) presents new opportunities for observing and manipulating macroscopic quantum phenomena in real time. In this talk I theoretically study harmonically trapped two-component BECs subject to weak measurement via phase contrast imaging. I discuss the application of weak measurement theory to spatially extended condensates and present a stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the condensate order parameter. I then examine the stability of spin-polarized and spin-unpolarized phases of the condensate subject to continuous weak measurement. Additionally, I demonstrate how weak measurement can be used to track the position of a domain wall between spin-polarized regions. I quantify the effects of measurement backaction on the stochastic dynamics of the domain wall and discuss how domain wall dynamics could be observed in experiment.

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 29, 20180 citations

Real-time imaging of spinor dynamics in

^{87}

Rb Bose Einstein Condensates