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APS March Meeting Abstracts

Measurement induced dynamics and defect stabilization in spinor condensates

Hilary M. Hurst, Ian B. Spielman

Published Jan 1, 2019• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Understanding system-reservoir dynamics in many-body physics is a new frontier. An external environment can be thought of as a 'measurement reservoir' which extracts information about the quantum system. Weak (i.e. minimally destructive) measurements provide a time-resolved but noisy record of system evolution. In this talk, we propose using weak measurement and feedback to probe and manipulate spinor Bose-Einstein condensates, focusing on the trade-off between usable information obtained from measurement and the effect of measurement on the system (quantum backaction). As a prototype example, we consider the dynamics of a domain wall in a two-component BEC and show that quantum backaction due to measurement causes two primary effects: domain wall diffusion and overall heating. The system dynamics and signal-to-noise ratio depend on the choice of measurement observable. We describe a feedback protocol to create and stabilize a domain wall in the regime where domain walls are unstable, giving a prototype example of Hamiltonian engineering using measurement and feedback.

Related papers

Measurement-induced dynamics and stabilization of spinor-condensate domain walls

Hilary M. Hurst, Ian B. Spielman

Weakly measuring many-body systems and allowing for feedback in real time can simultaneously create and measure new phenomena in quantum systems. We theoretically study the dynamics of a continuously measured two-component Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) potentially containing a domain wall and focus on the tradeoff between usable information obtained from measurement and quantum backaction. Each weakly measured system yields a measurement record from which we extract real-time dynamics of the domain wall. We show that quantum backaction due to measurement causes two primary effects: domain-wall diffusion and overall heating. The system dynamics and signal-to-noise ratio depend on the choice of measurement observable. We propose a feedback protocol to dynamically create a stable domain wall in the regime where domain walls are unstable, giving a prototype example of Hamiltonian engineering using measurement and feedback.

arXiv:1809.08257•Physical Review A•May 22, 2019•17 citations

Quantum Control with Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

Hilary M. Hurst, Shangjie Guo, Ian B. Spielman

Understanding and controlling many-body quantum systems in noisy environments is paramount to developing robust quantum technologies. An external environment can be thought of as a measurement reservoir which extracts information about the quantum system. Cold atoms are well suited to examine system-environment interaction via weak (i.e. minimally destructive) measurement techniques, wherein the measurement probe acts as the environment and also provides a noisy record of system dynamics. The measurement record can then be used in a feedback scheme, opening the door to real time control of quantum gases. In this talk I discuss our theoretical proposal to use weak measurement and feedback to engineer new phases in spin-1/2 Bose-Einstein condensates. We show that measurement and feedback alters the effective Hamiltonian governing system dynamics, thereby driving phase transitions reminiscent of a quantum quench for the closed system. We also develop a feedback cooling protocol which prevents runaway heating of the condensate due to measurement backaction. Our results show that measurement and feedback can alter condensate dynamics in a stable, controllable manner and provides a route toward Hamiltonian engineering in many-body systems. Finally, I will discuss ongoing experimental work to realize our proposal using Rb87.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Jun 4, 2020•0 citations

Magnetic phases in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate subject to weak measurement

Hilary M. Hurst, Ian B. Spielman

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 Society•May 29, 2018•0 citations

Feedback induced magnetic phases in binary Bose-Einstein condensates

Hilary M. Hurst, Shangjie Guo, I. B. Spielman

Weak measurement in tandem with real-time feedback control is a new route toward engineering novel nonequilibrium quantum matter. Here we develop a theoretical toolbox for quantum feedback control of multicomponent Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) using backaction-limited weak measurements in conjunction with spatially resolved feedback. Feedback in the form of a single-particle potential can introduce effective interactions that enter into the stochastic equation governing system dynamics. The effective interactions are tunable and can be made analogous to Feshbach resonances-spin independent and spin dependent-but without changing atomic scattering parameters. Feedback cooling prevents runaway heating due to measurement backaction and we present an analytical model to explain its effectiveness. We showcase our toolbox by studying a two-component BEC using a stochastic mean-field theory, where feedback induces a phase transition between easy-axis ferromagnet and spin-disordered paramagnet phases. We present the steady-state phase diagram as a function of intrinsic and effective spin-dependent interaction strengths. Our result demonstrates that closed-loop quantum control of Bose-Einstein condensates is a powerful tool for quantum engineering in cold-atom systems.

arXiv:2007.07266•Physical Review Research•Dec 7, 2020•15 citations

Feedback-cooled Bose-Einstein condensation: Near and far from equilibrium

Evan P. Yamaguchi, Hilary M. Hurst, Ian B. Spielman

Continuously measured interacting quantum systems almost invariably heat, causing loss of quantum coherence. Here, we study Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) subject to repeated weak measurement of the atomic density and describe several protocols for generating a feedback signal designed to remove excitations created by measurement back-action. We use a stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation to model the system dynamics and find that a feedback protocol utilizing momentum-dependent gain and filtering can effectively cool both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional systems. The performance of these protocols is quantified in terms of the steady-state energy, entropy, and condensed fraction. These are the first feedback cooling protocols demonstrated in two dimensions, and in one dimension our optimal protocol reduces the equilibrium energy by more than a factor of 100 as compared with a previous cooling protocol developed using the same methodology. We also use this protocol to quench-cool 1D BECs from noncondensed highly excited states and find that they rapidly condense into a far-from-equilibrium state with energy orders of magnitude higher than the equilibrium ground-state energy for that condensate fraction. We explain this in terms of the near integrability of our 1D system, whereby efficiently cooled low-momentum modes are effectively decoupled from the energetic ``reservoir'' of the higher-momentum modes. We observe that the quench-cooled condensed states can have nonzero integer winding numbers described by quantized supercurrents.

arXiv:2206.04156•Physical Review A•Jun 13, 2023•8 citations

Weak-measurement-induced heating in Bose-Einstein condensates

Emine Altuntaş, Ian B. Spielman

Ultracold atoms are an ideal platform for understanding system-reservoir dynamics of many-body systems. Here, we study quantum back-action in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, weakly interacting with a far-from resonant, i.e., dispersively interacting, probe laser beam. The light scattered by the atoms can be considered as a part of quantum measurement process, whereby the change in the system state derives from measurement back-action. We experimentally quantify the resulting back-action in terms of the deposited energy. We model the interaction of the system and environment with a generalized measurement process, leading to a Markovian reservoir. Further, we identify two systematic sources of heating and loss: a stray optical lattice and probe-induced light-assisted collisions (an intrinsic atomic process). The observed heating and loss rates are larger for blue detuning than for red detuning, where they are oscillatory functions of detuning with increased loss at molecular resonances and reduced loss between molecular resonances.

arXiv:2212.03431•Physical Review Research•Jun 23, 2023•5 citations
Understanding system-reservoir dynamics in many-body physics is a new frontier. An external environment can be thought of as a 'measurement reservoir' which extracts information about the quantum system. Weak (i.e. minimally destructive) measurements provide a time-resolved but noisy record of system evolution. In this talk, we propose using weak measurement and feedback to probe and manipulate spinor Bose-Einstein condensates, focusing on the trade-off between usable information obtained from measurement and the effect of measurement on the system (quantum backaction). As a prototype example, we consider the dynamics of a domain wall in a two-component BEC and show that quantum backaction due to measurement causes two primary effects: domain wall diffusion and overall heating. The system dynamics and signal-to-noise ratio depend on the choice of measurement observable. We describe a feedback protocol to create and stabilize a domain wall in the regime where domain walls are unstable, giving a prototype example of Hamiltonian engineering using measurement and feedback.
Weakly measuring many-body systems and allowing for feedback in real time can simultaneously create and measure new phenomena in quantum systems. We theoretically study the dynamics of a continuously measured two-component Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) potentially containing a domain wall and focus on the tradeoff between usable information obtained from measurement and quantum backaction. Each weakly measured system yields a measurement record from which we extract real-time dynamics of the domain wall. We show that quantum backaction due to measurement causes two primary effects: domain-wall diffusion and overall heating. The system dynamics and signal-to-noise ratio depend on the choice of measurement observable. We propose a feedback protocol to dynamically create a stable domain wall in the regime where domain walls are unstable, giving a prototype example of Hamiltonian engineering using measurement and feedback.
Understanding and controlling many-body quantum systems in noisy environments is paramount to developing robust quantum technologies. An external environment can be thought of as a measurement reservoir which extracts information about the quantum system. Cold atoms are well suited to examine system-environment interaction via weak (i.e. minimally destructive) measurement techniques, wherein the measurement probe acts as the environment and also provides a noisy record of system dynamics. The measurement record can then be used in a feedback scheme, opening the door to real time control of quantum gases. In this talk I discuss our theoretical proposal to use weak measurement and feedback to engineer new phases in spin-1/2 Bose-Einstein condensates. We show that measurement and feedback alters the effective Hamiltonian governing system dynamics, thereby driving phase transitions reminiscent of a quantum quench for the closed system. We also develop a feedback cooling protocol which prevents runaway heating of the condensate due to measurement backaction. Our results show that measurement and feedback can alter condensate dynamics in a stable, controllable manner and provides a route toward Hamiltonian engineering in many-body systems. Finally, I will discuss ongoing experimental work to realize our proposal using Rb87.
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.
Weak measurement in tandem with real-time feedback control is a new route toward engineering novel nonequilibrium quantum matter. Here we develop a theoretical toolbox for quantum feedback control of multicomponent Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) using backaction-limited weak measurements in conjunction with spatially resolved feedback. Feedback in the form of a single-particle potential can introduce effective interactions that enter into the stochastic equation governing system dynamics. The effective interactions are tunable and can be made analogous to Feshbach resonances-spin independent and spin dependent-but without changing atomic scattering parameters. Feedback cooling prevents runaway heating due to measurement backaction and we present an analytical model to explain its effectiveness. We showcase our toolbox by studying a two-component BEC using a stochastic mean-field theory, where feedback induces a phase transition between easy-axis ferromagnet and spin-disordered paramagnet phases. We present the steady-state phase diagram as a function of intrinsic and effective spin-dependent interaction strengths. Our result demonstrates that closed-loop quantum control of Bose-Einstein condensates is a powerful tool for quantum engineering in cold-atom systems.
Continuously measured interacting quantum systems almost invariably heat, causing loss of quantum coherence. Here, we study Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) subject to repeated weak measurement of the atomic density and describe several protocols for generating a feedback signal designed to remove excitations created by measurement back-action. We use a stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation to model the system dynamics and find that a feedback protocol utilizing momentum-dependent gain and filtering can effectively cool both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional systems. The performance of these protocols is quantified in terms of the steady-state energy, entropy, and condensed fraction. These are the first feedback cooling protocols demonstrated in two dimensions, and in one dimension our optimal protocol reduces the equilibrium energy by more than a factor of 100 as compared with a previous cooling protocol developed using the same methodology. We also use this protocol to quench-cool 1D BECs from noncondensed highly excited states and find that they rapidly condense into a far-from-equilibrium state with energy orders of magnitude higher than the equilibrium ground-state energy for that condensate fraction. We explain this in terms of the near integrability of our 1D system, whereby efficiently cooled low-momentum modes are effectively decoupled from the energetic ``reservoir'' of the higher-momentum modes. We observe that the quench-cooled condensed states can have nonzero integer winding numbers described by quantized supercurrents.
Ultracold atoms are an ideal platform for understanding system-reservoir dynamics of many-body systems. Here, we study quantum back-action in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates, weakly interacting with a far-from resonant, i.e., dispersively interacting, probe laser beam. The light scattered by the atoms can be considered as a part of quantum measurement process, whereby the change in the system state derives from measurement back-action. We experimentally quantify the resulting back-action in terms of the deposited energy. We model the interaction of the system and environment with a generalized measurement process, leading to a Markovian reservoir. Further, we identify two systematic sources of heating and loss: a stray optical lattice and probe-induced light-assisted collisions (an intrinsic atomic process). The observed heating and loss rates are larger for blue detuning than for red detuning, where they are oscillatory functions of detuning with increased loss at molecular resonances and reduced loss between molecular resonances.