Prof Dieter Jaksch

Abstract:

We investigate the dynamics of neutral atoms in a 2D optical lattice which traps two distinct internal states of the atoms in different columns. Two Raman lasers are used to coherently transfer atoms from one internal state to the other, thereby causing hopping between the different columns. By adjusting the laser parameters appropriately we can induce a non-vanishing phase of particles moving along a closed path on the lattice. This phase is proportional to the enclosed area and we thus simulate a magnetic flux through the lattice. This set-up is described by a Hamiltonian identical to the one for electrons on a lattice subject to a magnetic field and thus allows us to study this equivalent situation under very well defined controllable conditions. We consider the limiting case of huge magnetic fields-which is not experimentally accessible for electrons in metals-where a fractal band structure, the Hofstadter butterfly, characterizes the system.

Abstract:

We study the numerical solution of the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) describing a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) at zero or very low temperature. In preparation for the numerics we scale the 3d Gross-Pitaevskii equation and obtain a four-parameter model. Identifying 'extreme parameter regimes', the model is accessible to analytical perturbation theory, which justifies formal procedures well known in the physical literature: reduction to 2d and 1d GPEs, approximation of ground state solutions of the GPE and geometrical optics approximations. Then we use a time-splitting spectral method to discretize the time-dependent GPE. Again, perturbation theory is used to understand the discretization scheme and to choose the spatial/temporal grid in dependence of the perturbation parameter. Extensive numerical examples in 1d, 2d and 3d for weak/strong interactions, defocusing/focusing nonlinearity, and zero/nonzero initial phase data are presented to demonstrate the power of the numerical method and to discuss the physics of Bose-Einstein condensation. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract:

This paper introduces an extension of the time-splitting sine-spectral (TSSP) method for solving damped focusing nonlinear Schrödinger equations (NLSs). The method is explicit, unconditionally stable, and time transversal invariant. Moreover, it preserves the exact decay rate for the normalization of the wave function if linear damping terms are added to the NLS. Extensive numerical tests are presented for cubic focusing NLSs in two dimensions with a linear, cubic, or quintic damping term. Our numerical results show that quintic or cubic damping always arrests blowup, while linear damping can arrest blowup only when the damping parameter δ is larger than a threshold value δth. We note that our method can also be applied to solve the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation with a quintic damping term to model the dynamics of a collapsing and exploding Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC).

Abstract:

The schemes which allow the creation of macroscopically entangled states with a distance 0c which were in excellent agreement with the numerical results were obtained. It was shown that the fidelity of these states can be improved significantly by one-axis presqueezing.

Abstract:

We review theoretical proposals for implementation of quantum computing and quantum communication with quantum optical methods.