CAREER: Collective effects in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics - From fundamental science to devices

本职业奖支持相关光物质系统物理学的理论和计算研究和教育。在各种原子和固态平台上的腔量子电动力学的最新进展的激励下，PI将探索相互作用的光物质系统中的集体效应。当限制光的介质或物质系统复杂或由大量相互作用的成分组成时，集体行为就会出现，类似于超导、超流动性、量子磁性和其他物质状态的出现。研究重点包括：(1)了解与扩展的光限制介质（如光子分子或晶体）强耦合的量子发射体的性质，其中多模式效应是重要的；(2)研究由于量子物质的复杂状态（如原子凝聚物）与空腔耦合而产生的集体现象；(3)研究空腔量子电动力学系统晶格中的集体现象。在(1)中，集体效应来自于一个腔的许多模态，在(2)中，来自于材料系统的许多自由度，在(3)中，两者都有。研究光物质系统中集体现象的一个主要挑战是这些系统固有的非平衡性质。相关光-物质系统既不适合凝聚态物理的传统理论框架，也不适合量子光学。PI的目标是开发一种新的方法和现象学，将不同领域的理论和计算技术结合到一个统一的框架中，以解决非平衡量子多体系统，并确定将指导未来实验的新现象。PI旨在整合的技术和概念包括：量子光学的随机演化方法和输入输出形式，强相关系统物理学的矩阵-乘积态和变分波函数方法，以及光子学的格林函数方法，以解决相关光-物质系统中的非平衡现象。通过PI与从事半导体和超导体电路光物质平台的实验组的现有合作联系，将保持与实验的密切联系。通过教育部分，PI旨在融化凝聚态物理，量子光学，光子学和原子光学领域之间的界限。通过组织研讨会和暑期学校，课堂上和实际操作的研究经验将得到丰富，这些研讨会和暑期学校的目标是形成一个新的科学家和工程师社区，可以在传统学科的界面上操作。这个职业奖支持理论和计算研究和教育，以探索相互作用的光物质系统的新特性。光与物质的相互作用可以通过将光学活性量子材料放入光学谐振器中来增强。光学谐振器是一种由镜子组成的系统，可以捕获和增强特定频率的光。在这些条件下，当限制光的介质或材料系统复杂或由大量相互作用的组分组成时，可以在受控的环境中产生和研究光和物质的异常相。这些新奇的材料？光和物质被维持在稳定的平衡状态之外。包括生物体在内的许多自然系统和技术系统所依赖的过程远非平衡。光子的集体效应和相关状态的研究代表了一个新兴领域，汇集了来自凝聚态物理学、量子光学、原子和分子光学以及光子学的研究人员。下一代光电器件将需要对光-物质相互作用进行前所未有的控制。这项研究为未来的器件技术奠定了基础。PI的目标是开发一个教育项目，将融化凝聚态物理、量子光学、光子学和原子光学领域之间的传统界限。这项研究将产生新的方法、工具和概念，这些将成为下一代量子科学与工程教育项目课程的一部分。通过组织研讨会和暑期学校，课堂上和实际操作的研究经验将得到丰富，这些研讨会和暑期学校的目标是形成一个新的科学家和工程师社区，可以在传统学科的界面上操作。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER award supports theoretical and computational research and education in physics of correlated light-matter systems. Motivated by recent progress in cavity quantum electrodynamics on various atomic as well as solid-state platforms, the PI will explore collective effects in interacting light-matter systems. Collective behavior emerges when either the light-confining medium or the material system is complex or composed of a large number of interacting components, in a similar fashion to the emergence of superconductivity, superfluidity, quantum magnetism, and other states of matter.Research thrusts include, to: (1) understand the nature quantum emitters coupled strongly to extended light-confining media, such as photonic molecules or crystals, where multi-mode effects are important, (2) study collective phenomena due to coupling of complex states of quantum matter, such as atomic condensates, to cavities, (3) investigate collective phenomena in a lattice of cavity quantum electrodynamics systems. In (1) the collective effects derive from many modes of a cavity, in (2) from many degrees of freedom of the material system, and in (3) from both.A major challenge in studying collective phenomena in light-matter systems is the inherent non-equilibrium nature of these systems. Correlated light-matter systems fit neither into conventional theoretical frameworks of condensed matter physics, nor in quantum optics. The PI aims to develop a new approach and phenomenology that combines theoretical and computational techniques from different areas into a unified framework to address out-of-equilibrium quantum many body systems, and to identify new phenomena that will guide future experiments. The techniques and concepts that the PI aims to integrate include: stochastic evolution methods and input-output formalism of quantum optics, matrix-product-states and variational wavefunction approaches of strongly correlated systems physics and Green's function methods of photonics, to address non-equilibrium phenomena in correlated light-matter systems. Close contact will be maintained to experiments through existing collaborative links of the PI with experimental groups working on semiconductor- as well as superconductor-circuit based light-matter platforms. Through the education component, the PI aims to melt the boundaries between the fields of condensed matter physics, quantum optics, photonics and atomic optics. In-classroom and hands-on research experiences will be enriched by organization of workshops and summer schools that target the formation of a new community of scientists and engineers that can operate at interfaces of traditional disciplines. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis CAREER award supports theoretical and computational research and education to explore novel properties of interacting light-matter systems. Light-matter interactions can be enhanced by placing optically active quantum materials into an optical resonator, a system of mirrors arranged so that light a particular frequency is trapped and enhanced. Under these conditions, when either the light-confining medium or the material system is complex or composed of a large number of interacting components, unusual phases of light and matter can be generated and studied in a controlled setting. These novel `materials? of light and matter are sustained away from the steady state of equilibrium. Many natural and technological systems including living organisms are anchored on processes far from equilibrium.The study of collective effects and correlated states of photons represents an emerging area, bringing together researchers from condensed matter physics, quantum optics, atomic and molecular optics and photonics. The next generation of optoelectronic devices will require an unprecedented control over light-matter interactions. This research contributes to the foundations of future device technologies.The PI aims to develop an educational program that will melt the traditional boundaries between the fields of condensed matter physics, quantum optics, photonics and atomic optics. The research will generate new approaches, tools and concepts that will be part of the curriculum of the next-generation educational programs in quantum science and engineering. In-classroom and hands-on research experiences will be enriched by organization of workshops and summer schools that targets the formation of a new community of scientists and engineers that can operate at interfaces of traditional disciplines.