CAREER: Sodium Spinor Condensates and Their Applications in Quantum Information Science

该职业奖支持量子信息科学中大规模纠缠和自旋压缩的研究和应用，部分是通过实施第一个具有微米空间分辨率和毫微米-特斯拉场灵敏度的精密磁强计，以及开发一种有效的方案来检测和表征纠缠。这项工作的目标是应用钠旋量玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体(BEC)通过量子相变的绝热演化在Dicke态附近产生大量纠缠，并通过量子非摧毁测量将原子集体耦合到光场来产生自旋压缩。这项研究的目标既对增进我们对量子物理的理解具有根本的兴趣，也具有技术意义。它的跨学科特征涵盖了物理学和量子信息论的广泛领域。磁力计是用来测量磁场强度和空间分布的装置，是现有的最基本和最通用的测量工具之一。它们在科学和工业的所有领域都有广泛的应用，例如寻找矿产资源、用于早期检测和诊断的生物医学成像以及环境危害的探索。与所有测量技术一样，磁学测量的目标是达到能够检测到越来越小的量的灵敏度，以及能够精确定位到越来越小的尺寸的分辨率。这项职业奖支持的研究将把超冷BEC结合到原子磁测量的成熟光学测量方法中，该方法依赖于原子信号进行检测，以前是基于使用热原子蒸气的技术。新的冷原子方法将使开发具有更高的磁场灵敏度和空间分辨率的磁强计成为可能。除了重要的研究目标外，这个职业奖项将提供极好的机会，向学生介绍量子物理的现代发展，让他们参与研究项目，并为他们在科学和技术领域的职业生涯做好准备。将开发两门新的物理实验室课程，以更好地为学生进行高级研究做好准备。将积极努力，通过吸收美洲原住民学生、物理学专业的妇女和潜在的第一代？大学生参与科研和教育活动。这一职业奖将加强该地区科学教育的基础设施，并鼓励更多有才华的学生从事科学事业。

This CAREER award supports the study and application of massive entanglement and spin-squeezing in quantum information science, in part by implementing the first precise magnetometer with micron spatial resolution and femto-tesla field sensitivity, as well as the development of an efficient scheme to detect and characterize the entanglement. This work is targeted towards applying a sodium spinor Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) to generate massive entanglement in the vicinity of Dicke states through adiabatic evolution across a quantum phase transition, and to create spin-squeezing via collectively coupling atoms to a light field with a quantum non-demolition measurement. The goals of this research are both of fundamental interest for advancing our understanding of quantum physics, and of technological significance. Its interdisciplinary character envelops a broad spectrum of fields in physics and quantum information theory. Magnetometers, devices constructed to measure the strength and spatial distribution of magnetic fields, are among the most essential and versatile measurement tools available. They are used in a wide variety of applications in all areas of science and industry, such as searching for mineral resources, biomedical imaging for early detection and diagnostics, and the exploration of environmental hazards. As with all measurement techniques, the goals of a magnetometry measurement are to reach a sensitivity that will allow the detection of smaller and smaller quantities and a resolution that will allow pinpointing location to smaller and smaller sizes. The research supported under this CAREER award will incorporate ultracold BECs into proven optical measurement methods for atom magnetometry, which relies on atomic signals for detection, that were previously based on techniques using hot atomic vapors. The new cold atom approach will make it possible to develop magnetometers with enhanced magnetic field sensitivity and spatial resolution. Beyond the important research goals, this CAREER award will provide excellent opportunities to introduce students to modern developments in quantum physics, to involve them in research projects, and to prepare them for a career in science and technology. Two new laboratory courses in physics will be developed to better prepare the students for advanced research. Active efforts will be undertaken to broaden the participation of under-represented groups in this project by involving Native American students, women in physics, and potential ?first-generation? college students in research and educational activities. This CAREER award will enhance the infrastructure for science education in the region and encourage more talented students to pursue a career in science.