Prof Dieter Jaksch

Abstract:

We review novel methods to investigate, control and manipulate neutral atoms in optical lattices. These setups allow unprecedented quantum control over large numbers of atoms and thus are very promising for applications in quantum information processing. After introducing optical lattices we discuss the superfluid (SF) and Mott insulating (MI) states of neutral atoms trapped in such lattices and investigate the SF-MI transition as recently observed experimentally. In the second part of the paper we give an overview of proposals for quantum information processing and show different ways to entangle the trapped atoms, in particular the usage of cold collisions and Rydberg atoms. Finally, we also briefly discuss the implementation of quantum simulators, entanglement enhanced atom interferometers, and ideas for robust quantum memory in optical lattices.

Abstract:

We analyse two configurations for laser cooling of neutral atoms whose internal states store qubits. The atoms are trapped in an optical lattice which is placed inside a cavity. We show that the coupling of the atoms to the damped cavity mode can provide a mechanism which leads to cooling of the motion without destroying the quantum information.

Abstract:

We analyze two configurations for laser cooling of neutral atoms whose internal states store qubits. The atoms are trapped in an optical lattice which is placed inside a cavity. We show that the coupling of the atoms to the damped cavity mode can provide a mechanism which leads to cooling of the motion without destroying the quantum information.

Abstract:

We numerically study the behaviour of collapsing and exploding condensates using the parameters of the experiments by Donley et al (2001 Nature 412 295). Our studies are based on a full three-dimensional numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) including three-body loss. We determine the three-body loss rate from the number of remnant condensate atoms and collapse times, and obtain only one possible value which fits with the experimental results. We then study the formation of jet atoms by interrupting the collapse, and find very good agreement with the experiment. Furthermore, we investigate the sensitivity of the jets to the initial conditions. According to our analysis, the dynamics of the burst atoms is not described by the GPE with three-body loss incorporated.