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

该职业奖支持大规模纠缠和自旋压缩在量子信息科学中的研究和应用，部分原因是实现了第一个具有微米空间分辨率和飞特斯拉场灵敏度的精确磁力计，以及开发了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，并通过将原子集体耦合到具有量子非破坏测量的光场来产生自旋压缩。这项研究的目标对于推进我们对量子物理学的理解和技术意义都是至关重要的。它的跨学科特征涵盖了物理学和量子信息理论的广泛领域。磁力计是用来测量磁场强度和空间分布的设备，是最基本和最通用的测量工具之一。它们被广泛应用于科学和工业的所有领域，例如寻找矿产资源，用于早期检测和诊断的生物医学成像，以及探索环境危害。与所有测量技术一样，磁强计测量的目标是达到可以检测越来越小的数量的灵敏度和可以精确定位到越来越小尺寸的分辨率。这项由CAREER奖支持的研究将把超冷BECs整合到原子磁强计的成熟光学测量方法中，该方法依赖于原子信号进行检测，而以前是基于使用热原子蒸汽的技术。新的冷原子方法将使开发具有增强磁场灵敏度和空间分辨率的磁力计成为可能。除了重要的研究目标，这个职业奖将提供极好的机会，向学生介绍量子物理学的现代发展，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。将开设两门新的物理实验课程，以使学生更好地为进一步的研究做好准备。将积极努力扩大代表性不足的群体对该项目的参与，让美国土著学生、物理学女性和潜在的第一代学生参与进来。大学生的研究和教育活动。该奖项旨在加强区内的科学教育基础设施，并鼓励更多有才华的学生投身科学事业。

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.