Ultracold atoms for synthetic one-dimensional quasicrystals

Quantum simulation can provide insights into quantum many-body systems, which may otherwise be intractable due to an exponentially growing Hilbert space as more particles and degrees of freedom are considered in the system. In our work, we focus on a specific type of quantum simulation technique based on spectroscopic coupling of discrete atomic momentum states, dubbed momentum-state lattices. Previous work in this area focused on physics at the single-particle level, with interactions being treated only at the level of mean-field theory. This motivated us to pursue the production of a quantum gas of potassium-39, whose easily accessible Feshbach resonances can be used to tune the collisional properties of atoms in the gas, and hence give direct control over interactions. While we were ultimately unable to make a quantum gas of potassium-39, we detail our progress from magneto-optical trapping, sub-Doppler cooling, optical trapping, state preparation, and observation of Feshbach resonances in the first part of this thesis. In the second part of this thesis, we describe the production of a quantum gas of rubidium-87 via all-optical evaporative cooling. Then, we delve into the theory and experimental implementation of our momentum-state lattice technique in one-dimension. We discuss how we use our synthetic lattice technique to emulate transport in a Fibonacci quasicrystal. Finally, we present some future prospects in generating entangled momentum states via collisional interactions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Paladugu, Sai Naga Manoj

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gadway, Bryce R
• DeMarco, Brian L
• Draper, Patrick I
• Eckstein, James N

• Quantum Simulation
• Atomic Molecular And Optical Physics
• Synthetic Dimensions
• Fibonacci Quasicrystal
• Quasicrystals
• Momentum-state Lattice
• Potassium
• Rubidium
• Bose-einstein Condensate
• Optical Lattice
• Optical Dipole Trap
• Condensed Matter Physics

Statement dc:rights

• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International" license.

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127138

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127138