Atoms Trapped with Light Behave Like a Dissipative Quantum System


2021-7-19

JPS Hot Topics 1, 046

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSHT.1.046

© The Physical Society of Japan

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PT-symmetric non-Hermitian quantum many-body system using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice with controlled dissipation

Yosuke Takasu, Tomoya Yagami, Yuto Ashida, Ryusuke Hamazaki, Yoshihito Kuno, Yoshiro Takahashi
Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2020, 12A110 (2020).

A team of researchers from Japan experimentally realize, for the first time, a dissipative, parity-time symmetric, many-body quantum system from ultracold atoms trapped in an optical lattice.


Elementary quantum physics usually tackles quantum systems that are energy-conserving and described well by a Hermitian Hamiltonian. In reality, however, many quantum systems are dissipative in nature and can only be described effectively using a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Consequently, non-Hermitian quantum physics has garnered considerable attention from researchers across diverse subfields of physics.

In condensed matter physics, for instance, many-body systems are a widely researched topic. The electrons in these systems interact strongly with one another, giving rise to quantum states that cannot be described by knowing the equation of motion of a single electron. Recent theoretical studies have now revealed that many-body systems can be dissipative with parity-time (or PT)-symmetry and show unique exotic phases with no counterpart in conservative systems.

Against this backdrop, a team of physicists from Japan have recently experimentally realized a PT-symmetric, non-Hermitian, many-body system from ultracold Ytterbium atoms trapped in an optical lattice formed by interfering counter-propagating laser beams. In their study, the team experimentally investigated the ideal conditions for one-and two-body dissipation and developed methods to measure and control relative phases between on- and off-resonant lattices for PT symmetry. Additionally, they constructed a new theoretical framework to predict the appearance of interesting loss dynamics.

The experimental system developed by the team could serve as a future platform for investigating novel and uniquely non-Hermitian quantum phenomena as well as extend the non-Hermitian perspective to other quantum systems, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of many-body systems as a whole.

PT-symmetric non-Hermitian quantum many-body system using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice with controlled dissipation

Yosuke Takasu, Tomoya Yagami, Yuto Ashida, Ryusuke Hamazaki, Yoshihito Kuno, Yoshiro Takahashi
Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2020, 12A110 (2020).

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