Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

The Rochester Conferences on Coherence and Quantum Optics and the Quantum Information and Measurement meeting

Imaging Stokes Parameters of Spinor BECs

Justin T. Schultz, Azure Hansen, N. P. Bigelow

Published Jan 1, 2013• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present two methods to image the spin density and relative phases of states in spinor BECs. In a psuedo-spin-1/2 system, these measurements are analogous to the Stokes parameters used to describe polarization in optics.
DOI
10.1364/cqo.2013.m6.65

Related papers

A Raman waveplate for spinor Bose–Einstein condensates

Justin T. Schultz, Azure Hansen, N. P. Bigelow

We demonstrate a waveplate for a pseudo-spin-1/2 Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) using a two-photon Raman interaction. The angle of the waveplate is set by the relative phase of the optical fields, and the retardance is controlled by the pulse area. The waveplate allows us to image maps of the Stokes parameters of a BEC and thereby measure its relative ground-state phase. We demonstrate the waveplate by measuring the Stokes parameters of a coreless vortex.

arXiv:1406.4461•Optics Letters•Jul 14, 2014•26 citations

Polarization sensitive imaging of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate

Maitreyi Jayaseelan, Joseph D. Murphree, Justin T. Schultz +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•May 31, 2018•0 citations

Singular atom optics with spinor Bose–Einstein condensates

Azure Hansen, Justin T. Schultz, N. P. Bigelow

Spinor Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) and singular optical systems have both recently served as sandboxes to create and study analogs of phenomena from other fields of physics that are otherwise difficult to create and control experimentally. Interfacing singular optics and spinor BECs allows us to take advantage of and build on the foundations of singular optics to create and describe complex spin textures in BECs that serve as analogs of other systems. Here, the complete BEC wavefunctions are precisely engineered via a two-photon Raman interaction to contain π-symmetric (lemon, star) or 2π-symmetric (saddle, spiral) C-point singularities. The optical Raman beams are singular optical beams that contain these singularities and transfer them to the condensate, thereby creating vector-vortex spin textures—the spinor counterparts to scalar vortices—in pseudo-spin-1/2 BECs. With a version of atom-optic polarimetry, we can measure the Stokes parameters of the atomic cloud and characterize the singularities by the patterns present in their ellipse fields or by the C-point index. In the low density limit, these spin textures are analogs of optical vector vortices and should have dynamics driven by a matter-wave Gouy phase. With precise tuning of Raman beam parameters, we can create full Bloch BECs that contain every possible superposition between two states in the atomic cloud. Full Bloch BECs are similar to topologically stable magnetic skyrmions such as those created in thin metal films and nanowires, which may prove useful for atom-spintronics and topological quantum processes.

Optica•Mar 23, 2016•31 citations

A Geometric Description of Raman Fingerprints on Spinor BECs

Justin T. Schultz, Azure Hansen, Joseph D. Murphree +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•May 24, 2016•0 citations

Direct, Non-Destructive Imaging of Transverse and Longitudinal Magnetization in a Spin-1 Bose Gas

Lorraine E. Sadler, James Higbie, S. Inouye +5 more

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•May 20, 2005•0 citations

Holographic Imaging of Bose-Einstein Condensates

T.S. Loth

Bose-Einstein condensates are interesting systems for studying quantum mechanics. Absorption imaging and phase-contrast imaging are two methods that are often used to determine the absolute number of atoms in a condensate. This thesis proposes a third method: holographic imaging. This method relies on the interference of a probe beam, which passes through the condensate, and a reference beam. The phase shift of the light due to the atoms and the optical density of the condensate are reconstructed with the use of Fourier transformation. Up to 300 images can be taken \\textit{in situ}.\n\nThere are two interesting applications of holographic imaging. The first is the refractive index, which can be measured directly with holographic imaging. The Hartree-Fock model is used to relate the real and imaginary part of the refractive index to the degeneracy of the condensate. However, the preliminary results are ambiguous and require further study.\n\nThe second is spin-dependent imaging, in which two orthogonally polarized reference beams are used to reconstruct polarization dependent information. This can be applied to study the dynamics of spinor condensates. In this thesis, a proof of concept for this method is given.

•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations
Spinor Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) and singular optical systems have both recently served as sandboxes to create and study analogs of phenomena from other fields of physics that are otherwise difficult to create and control experimentally. Interfacing singular optics and spinor BECs allows us to take advantage of and build on the foundations of singular optics to create and describe complex spin textures in BECs that serve as analogs of other systems. Here, the complete BEC wavefunctions are precisely engineered via a two-photon Raman interaction to contain π-symmetric (lemon, star) or 2π-symmetric (saddle, spiral) C-point singularities. The optical Raman beams are singular optical beams that contain these singularities and transfer them to the condensate, thereby creating vector-vortex spin textures—the spinor counterparts to scalar vortices—in pseudo-spin-1/2 BECs. With a version of atom-optic polarimetry, we can measure the Stokes parameters of the atomic cloud and characterize the singularities by the patterns present in their ellipse fields or by the C-point index. In the low density limit, these spin textures are analogs of optical vector vortices and should have dynamics driven by a matter-wave Gouy phase. With precise tuning of Raman beam parameters, we can create full Bloch BECs that contain every possible superposition between two states in the atomic cloud. Full Bloch BECs are similar to topologically stable magnetic skyrmions such as those created in thin metal films and nanowires, which may prove useful for atom-spintronics and topological quantum processes.
Bose-Einstein condensates are interesting systems for studying quantum mechanics. Absorption imaging and phase-contrast imaging are two methods that are often used to determine the absolute number of atoms in a condensate. This thesis proposes a third method: holographic imaging. This method relies on the interference of a probe beam, which passes through the condensate, and a reference beam. The phase shift of the light due to the atoms and the optical density of the condensate are reconstructed with the use of Fourier transformation. Up to 300 images can be taken \\textit{in situ}.\n\nThere are two interesting applications of holographic imaging. The first is the refractive index, which can be measured directly with holographic imaging. The Hartree-Fock model is used to relate the real and imaginary part of the refractive index to the degeneracy of the condensate. However, the preliminary results are ambiguous and require further study.\n\nThe second is spin-dependent imaging, in which two orthogonally polarized reference beams are used to reconstruct polarization dependent information. This can be applied to study the dynamics of spinor condensates. In this thesis, a proof of concept for this method is given.