A Stronger Atom-Light Interface and Enhanced Spin Squeezing Through Quantum Control

该项目的主要目标是开发新方法，加强原子与光之间的量子界面，并将其用作增强控制与原子集合相关的量子力学自旋的工具。 其中心思想是，通过制备内部原子自旋的某些非平凡态，可以大大提高激光探针对集体自旋中量子不确定性的灵敏度。 在这种情况下，使用激光探针对自旋进行精确测量将减少或挤压自旋上的量子噪声，使其低于当前可实现的水平。 对内自旋的进一步控制可以将这种自旋压缩转化为提高原子钟、磁强计或基于物质波的惯性传感器性能的形式，为量子计量学和量子信息科学提供知识基础。 短期应用包括未来几代量子限制时钟和传感器，而长期应用则可能是量子存储器和量子通信网络中节点所需的其他硬件。 研究生参与项目的各个方面，包括培训，研究和成果的传播。 该项目是NSF支持的量子信息与控制中心（CQuIC）的基石，该中心位于亚利桑那大学和新墨西哥州大学。 因此，它有助于在量子信息科学的高度跨学科领域培养更广泛的未来科学家和工程师。

This project has as its main objective to develop new methods that strengthen the quantum interface between atoms and light, and to use this as a tool for enhanced control of the quantum mechanical spin associated with a collection of atoms. The central idea is that by preparing certain non-trivial states of the internal atomic spins, one can greatly increase the sensitivity of a laser probe to quantum uncertainty in the collective spin. In that situation, using the laser probe to perform an accurate measurement of the spin will reduce, or squeeze, quantum noise on the spin below currently achievable levels. Further control of the internal spins can convert such spin squeezing into forms that improve the performance of atomic clocks, magnetometers, or matter-wave based inertial sensors.The research contributes to the knowledge basis of quantum metrology and quantum information science. Short-term applications include future generations of quantum-limited clocks and sensors, while long-term applications are possible in quantum memories and other hardware required for the nodes in quantum communication networks. Graduate students are involved in all aspects of the project, including training, research, and the dissemination of results. The project is a cornerstone of the NSF-supported Center for Quantum Information and Control (CQuIC), co-located at the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico. As such, it contributes to the training of a wider group of future scientists and engineers in the highly interdisciplinary field of quantum information science.