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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Efficient generation and properties of mesoscopic quantum superposition states in an attractive Bose–Einstein condensate threaded by a potential barrier

Alexej I. Streltsov, Ofir E. Alon, L. S. Cederbaum

Published Apr 27, 2009• 26 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The dynamics of a low-dimensional ultracold attractive Bose gas threaded by a potential barrier is studied by solving the time-dependent many-boson Schrodinger equation. It is shown that quantum superposition states of two (or more) distinct mesoscopic Bose clouds can be formed. We demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of this proposed preparation scheme and characterize the properties of the generated quantum superposition states.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/42/9/091004

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The dynamics of a low-dimensional ultracold attractive Bose gas threaded by a potential barrier is studied by solving the time-dependent many-boson Schrodinger equation. It is shown that quantum superposition states of two (or more) distinct mesoscopic Bose clouds can be formed. We demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of this proposed preparation scheme and characterize the properties of the generated quantum superposition states.
Scattering in one dimension of an attractive ultracold bosonic cloud from a barrier can lead to the formation of two nonoverlapping clouds. Once formed, the clouds travel with constant velocity, in general different in magnitude from that of the incoming cloud, and do not disperse. The phenomenon and its mechanism---transformation of kinetic energy to internal energy of the scattered cloud---are obtained by solving the time-dependent many-boson Schr\"odinger equation. The analysis of the wave function shows that the object formed corresponds to a quantum superposition state of two distinct wave packets traveling through real space.
We study mesoscopic superpositions of two component Bose-Einstein condensates. Atomic condensates, with long coherence times, are good systems in which to study such quantum phenomena. We show that the mesoscopic superposition states can be rapidly generated in which the atoms dispersively interact with the photon field in a cavity. We also discuss the production of compass states which are macroscopic quantum superposition states. The physical realization of mesoscopic states is important in studying decoherence and precision measurement.
Precise and flexible manipulation of the motional state of ultracold atoms is a fundamental enabling technology for diverse applications such as quantum sensing and quantum computation. In this paper we propose a general, simple and highly efficient method to engineer the motional state of a Bose-Einstein condensate with time-dependent optical fields, which can be realized experimentally with existing light sculpting techniques. We demonstrate numerically how to engineer superpositions of persistent currents in a toroidal trap, achieving very high fidelity. We also study in detail the stability of the state over time, and we present an analytical two-state model that approximates well the evolution of the state in presence of self-interactions.
In a parameter regime for which the mean-field (Gross-Pitaevskii) dynamics becomes chaotic, mesoscopic quantum superpositions in phase space can occur in a double-well potential, which is shaken periodically. For experimentally realistic initial states, such as the ground state of some 100 atoms, the emergence of mesoscopic quantum superpositions in phase space is investigated numerically. It is shown to be reproducible, even if the initial conditions change slightly. Although the final state is not a perfect superposition of two distinct phase states, the superposition is reached an order of magnitude faster than in the case of the collapse-and-revival phenomenon. Furthermore, a generator of entanglement is identified.
The dynamics of attractive ultracold bosonic clouds in one dimension is studied by solving the many-particle time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The initially coherent wave packet can dynamically dissociate into two parts when its energy exceeds a threshold value. Noticeably, the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii theory does not show up the splitting. We call the split object fragmenton. It possesses remarkable properties; in particular, it is macroscopically fragmented. A simple static model predicts the existence of fragmented states responsible for the formation and dynamics of fragmentons.