Descrizione del progetto
Sfruttare i polaritoni a luce lenta di Rydberg per effettuare scoperte nel campo della scienza quantistica
Le interazioni forti tra fotoni sono ideali per generare stati di luce non classici e per preparare stati quantistici correlati. I polaritoni a luce lenta di Rydberg (stati atomici eccitati che si propagano lentamente attraverso un mezzo) sono promettenti per raggiungere questo obiettivo, visto che esperimenti recenti dimostrano interazioni forti tra fotoni. Il progetto SIRPOL, finanziato dal Consiglio europeo della ricerca, intende sviluppare i polaritoni a luce lenta di Rydberg per generare stati quantistici a molti corpi fortemente interagenti, utilizzando l’analisi microscopica e gli strumenti della fisica della materia condensata. Le attività del progetto si concentreranno sulla generazione di stati non classici, come sorgenti deterministiche di singoli fotoni e stati del gatto di Schrödinger, valutandone le potenzialità nell’informazione e nella tecnologia quantistica. I risultati del progetto miglioreranno la comprensione della dissipazione di energia e delle dinamiche di (non) equilibrio nei sistemi quantistici a molti corpi.
Obiettivo
A fundamental property of optical photons is their extremely weak interactions, which can be ignored for all practical purposes and applications. This phenomena forms the basis for our understanding of light and is at the heart for the rich variety of tools available to manipulate and control optical beams. On the other hand, a controlled and strong interaction between individual photons would be ideal to generate non-classical states of light, prepare correlated quantum states of photons, and harvest quantum mechanics as a new resource for future technology. Rydberg slow light polaritons have recently emerged as a promising candidate towards this goal, and first experiments have demonstrated a strong interaction between individual photons. The aim of this project is to develop and advance the research field of Rydberg slow light polaritons with the ultimate goal to generate strongly interacting quantum many-body states with photons. The theoretical analysis is based on a microscopic description of the Rydberg polaritons in an atomic ensemble, and combines well established tools from condensed matter physics for solving quantum many-body systems, as well as the inclusion of dissipation in this non-equilibrium problem. The goals of the present project addresses questions on the optimal generation of non-classical states of light such as deterministic single photon sources and Schrödinger cat states of photons, as well as assess their potential for application in quantum information and quantum technology. In addition, we will shed light on the role of dissipation in this quantum many-body system, and analyze potential problems and fundamental limitations of Rydberg polaritons, as well as address questions on equilibration and non-equilibrium dynamics. A special focus will be on the generation of quantum many-body states of photons with topological properties, and explore novel applications of photonic states with topological properties.
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computers
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantIstituzione ospitante
70174 Stuttgart
Germania