Final Report Summary - ESCQUMA (Exploring Strongly Correlated Quantum Matter with Cold Excited Atoms)
Understanding the physics of ensembles of interacting particles is one of the central challenges in modern physics. The reason is that such systems can display collective behaviour that is impossible to predict by knowledge of the individual constituents alone. A widely known example for such a collective effect is the emergence of superconductivity which permits the lossless transport of electric current.
The goal of this theoretical research project was to investigate collective behaviour in systems that are composed of so-called Rydberg atoms – atoms in excited states – that are confined in small volumes and brought into interaction. The physics of individual Rydberg atoms is very well understood, and it is relatively straight-forward to write down mathematical equations that describe an assembly of such atoms. However, solving these equations is a task of formidable complexity and even current supercomputers quickly reach the limit of their capability. The central challenge is thus to identify structures and patterns in these systems that allow a simplified, yet accurate, description of the many-atom system, which can be efficiently solved.
In this project we have successfully achieved this, and the resulting insights allowed us to shed light of new collective states formed by matter made of Rydberg atoms. We have for example shown that these systems undergo phase transition (similar to water turning to ice), and that these phase transitions can be even used in practical applications such as sensors that allow to detect electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range.
Overall, the research project has contributed new insights into the intriguing behaviour of large quantum mechanical systems. Given that many theoretical predictions where tested also in experiment it has advanced the state of the art of our understanding and the ability to control complex matter.
The goal of this theoretical research project was to investigate collective behaviour in systems that are composed of so-called Rydberg atoms – atoms in excited states – that are confined in small volumes and brought into interaction. The physics of individual Rydberg atoms is very well understood, and it is relatively straight-forward to write down mathematical equations that describe an assembly of such atoms. However, solving these equations is a task of formidable complexity and even current supercomputers quickly reach the limit of their capability. The central challenge is thus to identify structures and patterns in these systems that allow a simplified, yet accurate, description of the many-atom system, which can be efficiently solved.
In this project we have successfully achieved this, and the resulting insights allowed us to shed light of new collective states formed by matter made of Rydberg atoms. We have for example shown that these systems undergo phase transition (similar to water turning to ice), and that these phase transitions can be even used in practical applications such as sensors that allow to detect electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range.
Overall, the research project has contributed new insights into the intriguing behaviour of large quantum mechanical systems. Given that many theoretical predictions where tested also in experiment it has advanced the state of the art of our understanding and the ability to control complex matter.