Hannover 2016 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 6: Ultracold Atoms, Ions and Molecules II (with Q)

A 6.3: Talk

Monday, February 29, 2016, 15:00–15:15, e001

Two-dimensional Quantum Walks of Neutral Atoms in Spin-dependent Optical Lattices — •Geol Moon, Stefan Brakhane, Volker Schilling, Carsten Robens, Wolfgang Alt, Dieter Meschede, and Andrea Alberti — IAP institute - Wegelerstr. 8 - D-53115 Bonn

We report on the experimental realization of a two-dimensional spin-dependent optical lattice, which we will use to implement discrete-time quantum walks of Cs atoms in a two-dimensional geometry. We demonstrate high-resolution images of single atoms, which we detect through an objective lens with very high numerical aperture (NA∼0.92), which we designed and installed inside the home-built ultra-low-birefringence dodecagonal vacuum glass cell [1]. Our system provides an ideal platform to study the topological features of 2D quantum walk as the simulator of topological phases [2], which can be realized by suitable choice of the coin operation. We expect to observe exotic matter wave flow at the boundary between different topological domains. Furthermore, controlling the phase accumulated when atoms move from site to site on the 2D lattice permits to realize artificial gauge fields and to study the effect of magnetic fields on the 2D quantum walk [3].

[1] S. Brakhane, et al., Ultra-low birefringence dodecagonal vacuum glass cell, Submitted to Rev. Sci. Instrum. (2015)

[2] T. Kitagawa, et al., Exploring topological phases with quantum walks, Phys. Rev. A 82, 033429 (2010)

[3] P. Arnault and F. Debbasch, Quantum Walks and discrete Gauge Theories, arXiv:1508.00038 (2015)