Fluid Dynamics in Uniform Fermi Gases

这个项目将探索一个“设计”的量子系统中近乎完美的流体流动，该系统包含一种独特的超冷原子气体，包含在一个完全由激光制成的盒子中。这些桌面实验中使用的原子具有实验上可调节的吸引力或排斥力，从非常弱到非常强，使测量能够影响原子物理以外的智力学科的理论。其中包含的原子是新材料的模型，例如运行在远高于室温的超高温超导体，有朝一日这将使节能输电线和磁悬浮列车成为可能。学生和博士后将设计新的光学系统、新的计算机控制和机械系统，学习电动力学和量子力学，广泛培训他们应对科学和技术方面的挑战。技术观众摘要这些实验将研究碰撞(Feshbach)共振附近Li-6原子的费米气体的流体动力学，这使得能够对原子与原子的相互作用进行磁控制。超冷费米气体被包含、扰动和成像在使用两个数字微镜阵列产生的设计光学势中。通过成像原子密度随时间的分布，新的实验将测量流体动力学的线性响应和输运性质作为温度、相互作用强度和自旋不平衡的函数。在一维线性变化的势中想象被捕获的云团将确定状态方程。设计者的光学势能也将被用于冲击波的原位成像，作为相互作用强度、密度分布和温度分布的函数。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

General audience abstractThis project will explore nearly perfect fluid flow in a “designer” quantum system, comprising a unique ultracold gas of atoms, contained in a box made entirely of laser light. The atoms used in these tabletop experiments feature experimentally adjustable attraction or repulsion, from very weak to very strong, enabling measurements that impact theories in intellectual disciplines well outside of atomic physics. The contained atoms model new materials, such as super-high temperature superconductors that operate far above room temperature, which will one day enable energy-saving power lines and magnetically levitated trains. Students and post-doctoral associates will design new optical systems, new computer control and mechanical systems, and study electrodynamics and quantum mechanics, broadly training them for challenges arising in science and technology.Technical audience abstractThe experiments will study the fluid dynamics of a Fermi gas of Li-6 atoms near a collisional (Feshbach) resonance, which enables magnetic control of atom-atom interactions. The ultracold Fermi gas is contained, perturbed, and imaged in a designer optical potential, which is generated using two digital micro-mirror arrays. By imaging the atom density profile as a function of time, the new experiments will measure the hydrodynamic linear response and transport properties as a function of temperature, interaction strength, and spin-imbalance. Imaging the trapped cloud in a 1D linearly varying potential will determine the equation of state. Designer optical potentials also will be used for in-situ imaging of shock waves as a function of interaction strength, density profile and temperature profile.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.