Darmstadt 2008 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 44: Quanteneffekte (Interferenz / Sonstige)
Q 44.5: Talk
Thursday, March 13, 2008, 15:00–15:15, 2D
Quantum Phase Transitions with Polaritons and Photons — •Michael Hartmann1,2 and Martin Plenio1,2 — 1Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Imperial College London, 53 Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2PG, United Kingdom — 2QOLS, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
Artificial many-body systems that permit good experimental access and control have become an important tool for the study of quantum phase transitions in the laboratory.
Here we show that arrays of coupled high-Q cavities doped with atoms can be employed to study quantum phase transitions with polaritons and photons. In particular, photons can be driven into a Mott insulator state which corresponds to light in a "crystalized" form.
An important advantage of our approach is that it allows to access and control individual lattice sites.