Entangling the free motion of a particle pair: An experimental scenario

The concept of dissociation-time entanglement provides a means of manifesting non-classical correlations in the motional state of two counter-propagating atoms. In this article, we discuss in detail the requirements for a specific experimental implementation, which is based on the Feshbach dissociation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate of fermionic lithium. A sequence of two magnetic field pulses serves to delocalize both of the dissociation products into a superposition of consecutive wave packets, which are separated by a macroscopic distance. This allows to address them separately in a switched Mach-Zehnder configuration, permitting to conduct a Bell experiment with simple position measurements. We analyze the expected form of the two-particle wave function in a concrete experimental setup that uses lasers as atom guides. Assuming viable experimental parameters the setup is shown to be capable of violating a Bell inequality.The concept of dissociation-time entanglement provides a means of manifesting non-classical correlations in the motional state of two counter-propagating atoms. In this article, we discuss in detail the requirements for a specific experimental implementation, which is based on the Feshbach dissociation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate of fermionic lithium. A sequence of two magnetic field pulses serves to delocalize both of the dissociation products into a superposition of consecutive wave packets, which are separated by a macroscopic distance. This allows to address them separately in a switched Mach-Zehnder configuration, permitting to conduct a Bell experiment with simple position measurements. We analyze the expected form of the two-particle wave function in a concrete experimental setup that uses lasers as atom guides. Assuming viable experimental parameters the setup is shown to be capable of violating a Bell inequality.

arXiv:0905.1279Optics and SpectroscopyFeb 1, 20104 citations

Bell Test for the Free Motion of Material Particles

Clemens Gneiting, Klaus Hornberger

We present a scheme to establish nonclassical correlations in the motion of two macroscopically separated massive particles without resorting to entanglement in their internal degrees of freedom. It is based on the dissociation of a diatomic molecule with two temporally separated Feshbach pulses generating a motional state of two counterpropagating atoms that is capable of violating a Bell inequality by means of correlated single-particle interferometry. We evaluate the influence of dispersion on the Bell correlation, showing it to be important but manageable in a proposed experimental setup. The latter employs Bose-Einstein condensation of fermionic lithium atoms, uses laser-guided atom interferometry, and seems to be within the reach of present-day technology.We present a scheme to establish nonclassical correlations in the motion of two macroscopically separated massive particles without resorting to entanglement in their internal degrees of freedom. It is based on the dissociation of a diatomic molecule with two temporally separated Feshbach pulses generating a motional state of two counterpropagating atoms that is capable of violating a Bell inequality by means of correlated single-particle interferometry. We evaluate the influence of dispersion on the Bell correlation, showing it to be important but manageable in a proposed experimental setup. The latter employs Bose-Einstein condensation of fermionic lithium atoms, uses laser-guided atom interferometry, and seems to be within the reach of present-day technology.

arXiv:0807.1448Physical Review LettersDec 24, 200835 citations

Nonclassical correlations in the motion of dissociated Feshbach molecules

Clemens Gneiting

This thesis proposes two complementary scenarios to observe Bell correlations in the motion of two macroscopically separated material particles. Both are based on the gradual dissociation of ultracold Feshbach molecules and result in macroscopic delocalizations of the single-atom states. By giving a full account of these scenarios, including the coupled-channel description of the Feshbach dissociation, the optically guided dispersive propagation, interferometric processing and the final position measurements, I demonstrate for both cases their potential to violate a Bell inequality under experimentally viable conditions that correspond to delocalizations and interatomic separations on the order of centimeters.This thesis proposes two complementary scenarios to observe Bell correlations in the motion of two macroscopically separated material particles. Both are based on the gradual dissociation of ultracold Feshbach molecules and result in macroscopic delocalizations of the single-atom states. By giving a full account of these scenarios, including the coupled-channel description of the Feshbach dissociation, the optically guided dispersive propagation, interferometric processing and the final position measurements, I demonstrate for both cases their potential to violate a Bell inequality under experimentally viable conditions that correspond to delocalizations and interatomic separations on the order of centimeters.

Jan 1, 20100 citations

Molecular Feshbach dissociation as a source for motionally entangled atoms

Clemens Gneiting, Klaus Hornberger

We describe the dissociation of a diatomic Feshbach molecule due to a time-varying external magnetic field in a realistic trap and guide setting. An analytic expression for the asymptotic state of the two ultracold atoms is derived, which can serve as a basis for the analysis of dissociation protocols to generate motionally entangled states. For instance, the gradual dissociation by sequences of magnetic field pulses may delocalize the atoms into macroscopically distinct wave packets, whose motional entanglement can be addressed interferometrically. The established relation between the applied magnetic field pulse and the generated dissociation state reveals that square-shaped magnetic field pulses minimize the momentum spread of the atoms. This is required to control the detrimental influence of dispersion in a recently proposed experiment to perform a Bell test in the motion of the two atoms [C. Gneiting and K. Hornberger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260503 (2008)].We describe the dissociation of a diatomic Feshbach molecule due to a time-varying external magnetic field in a realistic trap and guide setting. An analytic expression for the asymptotic state of the two ultracold atoms is derived, which can serve as a basis for the analysis of dissociation protocols to generate motionally entangled states. For instance, the gradual dissociation by sequences of magnetic field pulses may delocalize the atoms into macroscopically distinct wave packets, whose motional entanglement can be addressed interferometrically. The established relation between the applied magnetic field pulse and the generated dissociation state reveals that square-shaped magnetic field pulses minimize the momentum spread of the atoms. This is required to control the detrimental influence of dispersion in a recently proposed experiment to perform a Bell test in the motion of the two atoms [C. Gneiting and K. Hornberger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 260503 (2008)].

arXiv:1002.2516Physical Review AJan 29, 201013 citations

Proposal for a motional-state Bell inequality test with ultracold atoms

Robert J. Lewis-Swan, Karen V. Kheruntsyan

We propose and theoretically simulate an experiment for demonstrating a motional-state Bell inequality violation for pairs of momentum-entangled atoms produced in Bose-Einstein condensate collisions. The proposal is based on realizing an atom-optics analog of the Rarity-Tapster optical scheme: it uses laser-induced Bragg pulses to implement two-particle interferometry on the underlying Bell state for two pairs of atomic scattering modes with equal but opposite momenta. The collision dynamics and the sequence of Bragg pulses are simulated using the stochastic Bogoliubov approach in the positive- $P$ representation. We predict values of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) parameter up to $S\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5$ for experimentally realistic parameter regimes, showing a strong violation of the CSHS-Bell inequality bounded classically by $S\ensuremath{\le}2$.We propose and theoretically simulate an experiment for demonstrating a motional-state Bell inequality violation for pairs of momentum-entangled atoms produced in Bose-Einstein condensate collisions. The proposal is based on realizing an atom-optics analog of the Rarity-Tapster optical scheme: it uses laser-induced Bragg pulses to implement two-particle interferometry on the underlying Bell state for two pairs of atomic scattering modes with equal but opposite momenta. The collision dynamics and the sequence of Bragg pulses are simulated using the stochastic Bogoliubov approach in the positive-$P$ representation. We predict values of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) parameter up to $S\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5$ for experimentally realistic parameter regimes, showing a strong violation of the CSHS-Bell inequality bounded classically by $S\ensuremath{\le}2$.

arXiv:1411.0191Physical Review AMay 20, 201538 citations

Formation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate and an entangled atomic gas by Feshbach resonance

Vladimir Yurovsky, A. Ben‐Reuven

Association in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, and dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to a Feshbach resonance in a time-dependent magnetic field, are analyzed incorporating non-mean-field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long-lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 100 ms and more). Entangled atoms in two-mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) may also be formed by molecular dissociation.Association in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, and dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to a Feshbach resonance in a time-dependent magnetic field, are analyzed incorporating non-mean-field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long-lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 100 ms and more). Entangled atoms in two-mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) may also be formed by molecular dissociation.

arXiv:cond-mat/0205267Physical Review AApr 23, 200350 citations

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representation. We predict values of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) parameter up to $S\ensuremath{\simeq}2.5$ for experimentally realistic parameter regimes, showing a strong violation of the CSHS-Bell inequality bounded classically by $S\ensuremath{\le}2$.