Nonequilibrium Dynamics and Site-Resolved Imaging in a Three-Dimensional Spinor Bose-Hubbard Model Quantum Simulator

三维（3D）强关联多体系统（如超导体）的物理建模是一个快速发展的研究前沿，其直接应用范围涵盖从新型材料开发到量子态制备的各个领域。由于系统的内在复杂性和现有数值技术的局限性，经典计算机-甚至是快速的超级计算机-无法对这些系统进行精确的模拟/研究。该项目将使用钠玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体（BEC）实现一个3D高度可编程的量子模拟器，并通过实验证明，在研究这种复杂的多体系统时，这种量子模拟器可以比经典模拟器更强大。玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚体是一种超冷气体，其中的原子彼此之间基本上无法区分，从而可以在宏观水平上观察量子行为。该项目的研究目标对于促进我们对量子物理的理解具有根本意义，并且具有技术意义。主要研究者（PI）将通过让本科生和研究生参与研究项目来整合研究和教学，并奋进扩大包括美洲原住民学生和女性在内的代表性不足的群体的参与。PI还将为当地高中生组织为期一天的研讨会，以获得最先进的量子物理设备和技术的实践经验。这个项目将鼓励更多的学生从事科学和技术工作。 该项目将在由限制在光学晶格中的反铁磁钠旋量BEC组成的3D旋量Bose-Hubbard模型量子模拟器中对多体系统进行实验研究。拥有自旋自由度，并表现出磁秩序和超流性，这个量子模拟器是高度可编程的，对许多参数，如温度，自旋，密度和维度的控制程度显着。实验研究包括研究运动/驱动晶格中自旋BEC的非平衡自旋和空间动力学以及非指数隧穿，并实现了通过量子气体放大器成像技术解决空间分辨率，直接检测3D量子系统的空间分布，并探索以前无法达到的微观制度。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过评估支持使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Physical modeling of three-dimensional (3D) strongly correlated many-body systems such as superconductors is a fast-moving research frontier with immediate applications spanning areas from the development of novel materials to quantum state preparation. Classical computers - even fast supercomputers - cannot perform accurate simulations/studies of these systems due to the intrinsic complexity of the systems and the limitations of existing numerical techniques. This project will implement a 3D highly-programmable quantum simulator using a sodium Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) and experimentally demonstrate that this quantum simulator can be more powerful than its classical counterpart in studying such intricate many-body systems. BECs are ultra-cold gases in which atoms become essentially indistinguishable from one another, allowing for observations of quantum behaviors at a macroscopic level. Research goals of this project are both of fundamental interest for advancing our understanding on quantum physics and of technological significance. The principal investigator (PI) will integrate research and teaching by involving undergraduate and graduate students into research projects, and endeavor to broaden the participation of under-represented groups including Native American students and women in physics. The PI will also organize one-day workshops for local high school students to get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art quantum physics equipment and techniques. This project will encourage more students to pursue a career in science and technology. This project will perform experimental studies on many-body systems in a 3D spinor Bose-Hubbard model quantum simulator consisting of an antiferromagnetic sodium spinor BEC confined in an optical lattice. Possessing spin degrees of freedom and exhibiting magnetic order and superfluidity, this quantum simulator is highly programmable with a remarkable degree of control over many parameters, such as temperature, spin, density, and dimensionality. The experimental studies include investigating out-of-equilibrium spin and spatial dynamics and non-exponential tunneling with spinor BECs in moving/driven lattices and achieving site-resolved spatial resolution via a quantum gas magnifier imaging technique to directly detect spatial distributions of 3D quantum systems and explore previously inaccessible microscopic regimes.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.