Coherent Imaging Spectroscopy of a Quantum Many-Body Spin System

Quantum simulators, in which well controlled quantum systems are used to reproduce the dynamics of less understood ones, have the potential to explore physics that is inaccessible to modeling with classical computers. However, checking the results of such simulations will also become classically intractable as system sizes increase. In this work, we introduce and implement a coherent imaging spectroscopic technique to validate a quantum simulation, much as magnetic resonance imaging exposes structure in condensed matter. We use this method to determine the energy levels and interaction strengths of a fully-connected quantum many-body system. Additionally, we directly measure the size of the critical energy gap near a quantum phase transition. We expect this general technique to become an important verification tool for quantum simulators once experiments advance beyond proof-of-principle demonstrations and exceed the resources of conventional computers

Highly frustrated spin-lattice models of magnetism and their quantum phase transitions: A microscopic treatment via the coupled cluster method

We outline how the coupled cluster method of microscopic quantum many-body theory can be utilized in practice to give highly accurate results for the ground-state properties of a wide variety of highly frustrated and strongly correlated spin-lattice models of interest in quantum magnetism, including their quantum phase transitions. The method itself is described, and it is shown how it may be implemented in practice to high orders in a systematically improvable hierarchy of (so-called LSUB$m$) approximations, by the use of computer-algebraic techniques. The method works from the outset in the thermodynamic limit of an infinite lattice at all levels of approximation, and it is shown both how the "raw" LSUB$m$ results are themselves generally excellent in the sense that they converge rapidly, and how they may accurately be extrapolated to the exact limit, $m \rightarrow \infty$, of the truncation index $m$, which denotes the {\it only} approximation made. All of this is illustrated via a specific application to a two-dimensional, frustrated, spin-half $J^{XXZ}_{1}$--$J^{XXZ}_{2}$ model on a honeycomb lattice with nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor interactions with exchange couplings $J_{1}>0$ and $J_{2} \equiv \kappa J_{1} > 0$, respectively, where both interactions are of the same anisotropic $XXZ$ type. We show how the method can be used to determine the entire zero-temperature ground-state phase diagram of the model in the range $0 \leq \kappa \leq 1$ of the frustration parameter and $0 \leq \Delta \leq 1$ of the spin-space anisotropy parameter. In particular, we identify a candidate quantum spin-liquid region in the phase space

Dynamics in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick Ising spin glass at and above Tg

A detailed numerical study is made of relaxation at equilibrium in the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick Ising spin glass model, at and above the critical temperature Tg. The data show a long time stretched exponential relaxation q(t) ~ exp[-(t/tau(T))^beta(T)] with an exponent beta(T) tending to ~ 1/3 at Tg. The results are compared to those which were observed by Ogielski in the 3d ISG model, and are discussed in terms of a phase space percolation transition scenario.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Spin-1/2 J1J_{1}-J2J_{2} Heisenberg model on a cross-striped square lattice

Using the coupled cluster method (CCM) we study the full (zero-temperature) ground-state (GS) phase diagram of a spin-half ($s=1/2$) $J_{1}$-$J_{2}$ Heisenberg model on a cross-striped square lattice. Each site of the square lattice has 4 nearest-neighbour exchange bonds of strength $J_{1}$ and 2 next-nearest-neighbour (diagonal) bonds of strength $J_{2}$. The $J_{2}$ bonds are arranged so that the basic square plaquettes in alternating columns have either both or no $J_{2}$ bonds included. The classical ($s \rightarrow \infty$) version of the model has 4 collinear phases when $J_{1}$ and $J_{2}$ can take either sign. Three phases are antiferromagnetic (AFM), showing so-called N\'{e}el, double N\'{e}el and double columnar striped order respectively, while the fourth is ferromagnetic. For the quantum $s=1/2$ model we use the 3 classical AFM phases as CCM reference states, on top of which the multispin-flip configurations arising from quantum fluctuations are incorporated in a systematic truncation hierarchy. Calculations of the corresponding GS energy, magnetic order parameter and the susceptibilities of the states to various forms of valence-bond crystalline (VBC) order are thus carried out numerically to high orders of approximation and then extrapolated to the (exact) physical limit. We find that the $s=1/2$ model has 5 phases, which correspond to the four classical phases plus a new quantum phase with plaquette VBC order. The positions of the 5 quantum critical points are determined with high accuracy. While all 4 phase transitions in the classical model are first order, we find strong evidence that 3 of the 5 quantum phase transitions in the $s=1/2$ model are of continuous deconfined type

A frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a chevron-square lattice

The coupled cluster method (CCM) is used to study the zero-temperature properties of a frustrated spin-half ($s={1}{2}$) $J_{1}$--$J_{2}$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet (HAF) on a 2D chevron-square lattice. Each site on an underlying square lattice has 4 nearest-neighbor exchange bonds of strength $J_{1}>0$ and 2 next-nearest-neighbor (diagonal) bonds of strength $J_{2} \equiv x J_{1}>0$, with each square plaquette having only one diagonal bond. The diagonal bonds form a chevron pattern, and the model thus interpolates smoothly between 2D HAFs on the square ($x=0$) and triangular ($x=1$) lattices, and also extrapolates to disconnected 1D HAF chains ($x \to \infty$). The classical ($s \to \infty$) version of the model has N\'{e}el order for $0 < x < x_{{\rm cl}}$ and a form of spiral order for $x_{{\rm cl}} < x < \infty$, where $x_{{\rm cl}} = {1}{2}$. For the $s={1}{2}$ model we use both these classical states, as well as other collinear states not realized as classical ground-state (GS) phases, as CCM reference states, on top of which the multispin-flip configurations resulting from quantum fluctuations are incorporated in a systematic truncation scheme, which we carry out to high orders and extrapolate to the physical limit. We calculate the GS energy, GS magnetic order parameter, and the susceptibilities of the states to various forms of valence-bond crystalline (VBC) order, including plaquette and two different dimer forms. We find that the $s={1}{2}$ model has two quantum critical points, at $x_{c_{1}} \approx 0.72(1)$ and $x_{c_{2}} \approx 1.5(1)$, with N\'{e}el order for $0 < x < x_{c_{1}}$, a form of spiral order for $x_{c_{1}} < x < x_{c_{2}}$ that includes the correct three-sublattice $120^{\circ}$ spin ordering for the triangular-lattice HAF at $x=1$, and parallel-dimer VBC order for $x_{c_{2}} < x < \infty$

Bethe ansatz solution of an integrable, non-Abelian anyon chain with D(D_3) symmetry

The exact solution for the energy spectrum of a one-dimensional Hamiltonian with local two-site interactions and periodic boundary conditions is determined. The two-site Hamiltonians commute with the symmetry algebra given by the Drinfeld double D(D_3) of the dihedral group D_3. As such the model describes local interactions between non-Abelian anyons, with fusion rules given by the tensor product decompositions of the irreducible representations of D(D_3). The Bethe ansatz equations which characterise the exact solution are found through the use of functional relations satisfied by a set of mutually commuting transfer matrices.Comment: 19 page

Time- and frequency-domain polariton interference

We present experimental observations of interference between an atomic spin coherence and an optical field in a {\Lambda}-type gradient echo memory. The interference is mediated by a strong classical field that couples a weak probe field to the atomic coherence through a resonant Raman transition. Interference can be observed between a prepared spin coherence and another propagating optical field, or between multiple {\Lambda} transitions driving a single spin coherence. In principle, the interference in each scheme can yield a near unity visibility.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Three field tests of a gas filter correlation radiometer

Test flights to remotely measure nonurban carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations by gas filter correlation radiometry are discussed. The inferred CO concentrations obtained through use of the Gas Filter Correlation Radiometer (GFCR) agreed with independent measurements obtained by gas chromatography air sample bottle analysis to within 20 percent. The equipment flown on board the aircraft, the flight test procedure, the gas chromatograph direct air sampling procedure, and the GFCR data analysis procedure are reported

Computer and photogrammetric general land use study of central north Alabama

The object of this report is to acquaint potential users with two computer programs, developed at NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center. They were used in producing a land use survey and maps of central north Alabama from Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) digital data. The report describes in detail the thought processes and analysis procedures used from the initiation of the land use study to its completion, as well as a photogrammetric study that was used in conjunction with the computer analysis to produce similar land use maps. The results of the land use demonstration indicate that, with respect to computer time and cost, such a study may be economically and realistically feasible on a statewide basis