Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling in Ultracold Quantum Gases

超冷量子气体中的宏观量子隧道

• 批准号: 1306638
• 负责人: Lincoln Carr
• 金额: $ 16.5万
• 依托单位: Colorado School of Mines
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1306638&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Macroscopic; Quantum; Tunneling; Ultracold; Gases

Tunneling through a potential barrier is one of the most basic and extraordinary features of quantum mechanics. It plays a key role in important technologies such as tunneling diodes and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), both used in common devices ranging from electronics to biological measurements. Atomic, molecular, and optical theory has a long history of exploring fundamental questions in physics in tabletop experiments, from limits on the standard model of particle physics in studies of basic symmetries of the universe to time variation of fundamental physical constants in cold molecules. We will push the limits of quantum mechanics and disparate notions of what is macroscopic, in practical realizations in ultracold quantum gases. We focus on macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT), i.e., tunneling of many particles at once, where very many outstanding problems remain unanswered. Bose-Einstein condensates and ultracold quantum gases provide an ideal context in which to explore MQT because they are highly tunable and controllable macroscopic quantum systems in which theoretical ideas can be realized directly in present experiments.We have a multi-faceted approach to meet broader impact goals. First, we will continue to organize national and international workshops and conferences including the recent cold molecules program in Spring 2013. Second, we will work with large numbers of undergraduate researchers via the Colorado School of Mines' (CSM) senior design / senior thesis program, CSM's combined BS/MS programs, and the NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Third, we will continue to foster an accepting, diverse environment within our research group to support underrepresented groups in physics. Finally, the training of students in rigorous numerical techniques and high-performance parallel computing is key to success in a number of arenas in society, from the space program to global climate change. We will train such students, and support a PI involved in that effort from the undergraduate through post-doctoral levels.

穿过势垒的隧道是量子力学最基本和最非凡的特征之一。 它在隧道二极管和超导量子干涉器件 (SQUID) 等重要技术中发挥着关键作用，这两种技术都用于从电子到生物测量的常见设备中。 原子、分子和光学理论在桌面实验中探索物理学基本问题有着悠久的历史，从宇宙基本对称性研究中粒子物理标准模型的限制到冷分子中基本物理常数的时间变化。 我们将在超冷量子气体的实际实现中突破量子力学的极限和宏观的不同概念。 我们专注于宏观量子隧道效应（MQT），即同时隧道化许多粒子，其中许多突出的问题仍未得到解决。 玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚和超冷量子气体为探索 MQT 提供了理想的环境，因为它们是高度可调和可控的宏观量子系统，其中理论思想可以在当前的实验中直接实现。我们有一个多方面的方法来满足更广泛的影响目标。 首先，我们将继续组织国内和国际研讨会和会议，包括最近在 2013 年春季举办的冷分子项目。其次，我们将通过科罗拉多矿业学院 (CSM) 的高级设计/高级论文项目与大量本科生研究人员合作、CSM 的联合学士/硕士学位课程以及 NSF 本科生研究体验计划。第三，我们将继续在我们的研究小组内营造一个包容、多元化的环境，以支持物理学领域代表性不足的群体。 最后，对学生进行严格的数值技术和高性能并行计算方面的培训是在社会许多领域（从太空计划到全球气候变化）取得成功的关键。我们将培训这样的学生，并支持从本科生到博士后参与这项工作的 PI。