Quantum simulation of electron-phonon interactions in strongly deformable materials

We propose an approach for quantum simulation of electron-phonon interactions using Rydberg states of cold atoms and ions. We show how systems of cold atoms and ions can be mapped onto electron-phonon systems of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger type. We discuss how properties of the simulated Hamiltonian can be tuned and how to read physically relevant properties from the simulator. In particular, use of painted spot potentials offers a high level of tunability, enabling all physically relevant regimes of the electron-phonon Hamiltonian to be accessed.Comment: To appear in New Journal of Physic

Adaptive reflection and focusing of Bose-Einstein condensates

We report adjustable magnetic `bouncing' and focusing of a dilute $^{87}$Rb Bose gas. Both the condensate production and manipulation are realised using a particularly straight-forward apparatus. The bouncing region is comprised of approximately concentric ellipsoidal magnetic equipotentials with a centre that can be adjusted vertically. We extend, and discuss the limitations of, simple Thomas-Fermi and Monte-Carlo theoretical models for the bouncing, which at present find close agreement with the condensate's evolution. Very strong focusing has been inferred and the observation of atomic matter-wave diffraction should be possible. Prospects look bright for applications in matter-wave atom-optics, due to the very smooth nature of the mirror

Implementation strategies for multiband quantum simulators of real materials

The majority of quantum simulators treat simplified one-band strongly correlated models, whereas multiple bands are needed to describe materials with intermediate correlation. We investigate the sensitivity of multiband quantum simulators to: (1) the form of optical lattices, (2) the interactions between electron analogs. Since the kinetic-energy terms of electron analogs in a quantum simulator and electrons in a solid are identical, by examining both periodic potential and interaction we explore the full problem of many-band quantum simulators within the Born–Oppenheimer approximation. Density functional calculations show that band structure is highly sensitive to the form of optical lattice, and it is necessary to go beyond sinusoidal potentials to ensure that the bands closest to the Fermi surface are similar to those in real materials. Analysis of several electron analog types finds that dressed Rydberg atoms (DRAs) have promising interactions for multiband quantum simulation. DRA properties can be chosen so that interaction matrices approximate those in real systems and decoherence effects are controlled, albeit with parameters at the edge of currently available technology. We conclude that multiband quantum simulators implemented by using the principles established here could provide insight into the complex processes in real materials

Cold-atom quantum simulator to explore pairing, condensation, and pseudogaps in extended Hubbard-Holstein models

We describe a quantum simulator for the Hubbard-Holstein model (HHM), comprising two dressed Rydberg atom species held in a monolayer by independent painted potentials, predicting that boson-mediated preformed pairing and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition temperatures are experimentally accessible. The HHM is important for modeling the essential physics of unconventional superconductors. Experimentally realizable quantum simulators for HHMs are needed (1) since HHMs are difficult to solve numerically and analytically, (2) to explore how competition between electron-phonon interactions and strong repulsion affects pairing in unconventional superconductors, and (3) to understand the role of boson-mediated local pairing in pseudogaps and fermion condensates. We propose and study a quantum simulator for the HHM, using optical lattices, painted using zeros in the ac Stark shift, to control two Rydberg atom species independently within a monolayer. We predict that interactions are sufficiently tunable to probe (1) both HHMs and highly unconventional phonon-mediated repulsions, (2) the competition between intermediate-strength phonon- and Coulomb-mediated interactions, and (3) BKT transitions and preformed pairing that could be used to examine key hypotheses related to the pseudogap. We discuss how the quantum simulator can be used to investigate boson-mediated pairing and condensation of fermions in unconventional superconductors

Experimental demonstration of painting arbitrary and dynamic potentials for Bose-Einstein condensates

There is a pressing need for robust and straightforward methods to create potentials for trapping Bose-Einstein condensates which are simultaneously dynamic, fully arbitrary, and sufficiently stable to not heat the ultracold gas. We show here how to accomplish these goals, using a rapidly-moving laser beam that "paints" a time-averaged optical dipole potential in which we create BECs in a variety of geometries, including toroids, ring lattices, and square lattices. Matter wave interference patterns confirm that the trapped gas is a condensate. As a simple illustration of dynamics, we show that the technique can transform a toroidal condensate into a ring lattice and back into a toroid. The technique is general and should work with any sufficiently polarizable low-energy particles.Comment: Minor text changes and three references added. This is the final version published in New Journal of Physic

Bilayers of Rydberg atoms as a quantum simulator for unconventional superconductors

In condensed matter, it is often difficult to untangle the effects of competing interactions, and this is especially problematic for superconductors. Quantum simulators may help: here we show how exploiting the properties of highly excited Rydberg states of cold fermionic atoms in a bilayer lattice can simulate electron-phonon interactions in the presence of strong correlation—a scenario found in many unconventional superconductors. We discuss the core features of the simulator, and use numerics to compare with condensed matter analogues. Finally, we illustrate how to achieve a practical, tunable implementation of the simulation using “painted spot” potentials

The TULIP project : first on-line result and near future

The TULIP project aims to produce radioactive ion beams of short-lived neutron-deficient isotopes by using fusion-evaporation reactions in an optimized Target Ion Source System (TISS). The first step consisted of the design of a TISS to produce rubidium isotopes. It was tested with a primary beam of $^{22}$[email protected] MeV/A irradiating a natural Ni target at the SPIRAL1/GANIL facility in March 2022. Rates of $^{76,78}$Rb were measured as well as an exceptionally short atom-to-ion transformation time for an ISOL system, of the order of 200 \mathrm{\micro}s. The second step of the project aims at producing neutron-deficient short-lived metallic isotopes in the region of $^{100}$Sn. A "cold" prototype has been realized to study the electron impact ionization in the TISS cavity and a "hot" version is under construction to prepare an on-line experiment expected in the near future

Deterministic single-atom excitation via adiabatic passage and Rydberg blockade

We propose to use adiabatic rapid passage with a chirped laser pulse in the strong dipole blockade regime to deterministically excite only one Rydberg atom from randomly loaded optical dipole traps or optical lattices. The chirped laser excitation is shown to be insensitive to the random number \textit{N} of the atoms in the traps. Our method overcomes the problem of the $\sqrt {N}$ dependence of the collective Rabi frequency, which was the main obstacle for deterministic single-atom excitation in the ensembles with unknown \textit{N}, and can be applied for single-atom loading of dipole traps and optical lattices.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Version 5 is expanded and submitted to PRA. Typo in Fig.4 corrected in Version 2. Version 3 and 4 are duplicates of V

Scotland, Catalonia and the “right” to self-determination: a comment suggested by Kathryn Crameri’s “Do Catalans Have the Right to Decide?

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