NSF-BSF: Universality Puzzles and Coherent Control of Efimov Physics with 7Li Atoms

NSF-BSF：7Li 原子 Efimov 物理的普遍性难题和相干控制

• 批准号: 2308791
• 负责人: Jose D'Incao
• 金额: $ 24万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-08-01 至 2026-07-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2308791&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; BSF; Universality; Puzzles; Coherent

This project aims to advance the understanding of the nature of atomic multi-body interactions in the nearly resonant regime and will study various methods for control and manipulation of their quantum mechanical properties. While a theoretical description of few-atom systems is extremely challenging, requiring the development of highly efficient numerical and computational techniques, it provides a broad and rich range of opportunities to advance scientific knowledge and has potential technological impact. This project represents a theoretical and experimental collaboration via the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF). The combined theory and experimental effort will enable a deeper understanding of few-atom processes which may lead to various applications in atomic clocks, quantum information science, and the exploration of numerous novel phases of matter. Additionally, the educational impact of this research lies in training graduate and undergraduate students in state-of-the-art theoretical and computational research techniques, providing them with valuable skills and knowledge.Recent experimental observations of Efimov physics with 7Li atoms have exhibited discrepancies compared to theoretical calculations, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the concept of universality and its relevance to this particular system. 7Li atoms possess unique properties that distinguish them from other commonly used atomic species in ultracold quantum gases, demanding a more detailed and rigorous analysis. Specifically, the interaction between 7Li atoms is strongly influenced by electronic-exchange interactions, even at significant distances comparable to the van der Waals length. Consequently, electronic-exchange interactions can have a greater impact on Efimov physics in 7Li than in any other atomic species currently under investigation. Addressing this question will enable the development of accurate theoretical models for achieving coherent control over few-body processes. Such control has the potential to stabilize strongly interacting gases by minimizing few-body losses, while also providing avenues to manipulate three-body interactions and create exotic dynamical regimes. Notably, the investigation of superposition states utilized in 7Li interferometric experiments holds particular interest. These experiments have demonstrated coherence times longer than the lifetime of Efimov states themselves, suggesting the existence of novel physical phenomena that current theory has yet to fully comprehend.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.

该项目旨在促进对近共振区原子多体相互作用本质的理解，并将研究控制和操纵其量子力学性质的各种方法。虽然对少原子系统的理论描述极具挑战性，需要开发高效的数值和计算技术，但它提供了广泛和丰富的机会来促进科学知识的发展，并具有潜在的技术影响。该项目代表了通过美国国家科学基金会(NSF)和美国-以色列双国科学基金会(BSF)进行的理论和实验合作。理论和实验的结合将使人们能够更深入地理解少原子过程，这可能会导致在原子钟、量子信息科学和探索许多新的物质相方面的各种应用。此外，这项研究的教育影响在于培训研究生和本科生使用最先进的理论和计算研究技术，为他们提供宝贵的技能和知识。最近对7Li原子的Efimov物理的实验观测与理论计算相比显示出差异，突显出需要更全面地理解普适性的概念及其与这个特殊系统的相关性。7Li原子具有独特的性质，将它们与超冷量子气体中其他常用的原子物种区分开来，需要更详细和严格的分析。具体地说，7Li原子之间的相互作用受到电子交换作用的强烈影响，即使在与范德华长度相当的很远的距离上也是如此。因此，电子交换相互作用对7Li中的Efimov物理的影响可能比目前正在研究的任何其他原子物种中的影响都要大。解决这一问题将有助于发展精确的理论模型，以实现对少体过程的一致控制。这种控制有可能通过最大限度地减少少数物体的损失来稳定强相互作用的气体，同时也提供了操纵三体相互作用和创造奇异动力学制度的途径。值得注意的是，在7Li干涉实验中对叠加态的研究尤其令人感兴趣。这些实验证明了比埃菲莫夫状态本身更长的相干时间，这表明存在当前理论尚未完全理解的新的物理现象。这一奖项反映了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。