Engineering Quantum Fluctuation Phenomena in Nanoscale Quantum Optical Systems

纳米级量子光学系统通过将光限制在小区域来提高光-物质相互作用的效率。这样的系统是无数新兴量子技术应用的组成部分：从构建单光子设备到远距离存储和传输量子信息，再到促进基础物理的精确测试。因此，随着对量子系统小型化的不断努力，既有探索纳米尺度量子现象的基本动机，也有开发模块化片上架构的实际目标，纳米尺度的原子表面相互作用成为开发新型量子系统的核心方面。然而，当原子在纳米尺度上与光子结构连接时，电磁场的量子涨落严重限制了捕获和控制原子的能力。这项工作将通过利用原子系统的集体行为和用激光操纵原子的能力，开发出设计这种量子涨落现象的方法——力、耗散和退相干。在纳米级量子系统的设计中克服这些关键挑战将使量子器件具有新的功能。除了研究目标之外，PI还将在量子科学与工程的交叉领域培养多样化的本科生和研究生队伍。作为教育工作的一部分，PI将开发量子光学和量子信息的多学科高级课程，吸引来自不同科学和工程专业的学生。本研究将建立一个驱动耗散的开放量子系统方法来工程量子涨落现象-卡西米尔-波尔德力，耗散和退相干-在近表面的集体原子系统中，目标是实现纳米级量子光学系统的更好的控制和相干性。该计划将建立和推进新的工具来控制量子涨落现象，主要有四个重点：(1)通过开发近表面捕获和冷却方案，在距离表面10-100纳米的距离上实现良好控制和相干的原子系统；(2)扩展卡西米尔物理和宏观QED的框架，研究可以在量子叠加、纠缠或集体状态下制备的、外部驱动的物体的涨落现象；(3)利用纳米光栅原子衍射技术对Casimir-Polder力进行高精度测量，以产生排斥驱动诱导的Casimir-Polder力，并利用集体效应操纵Casimir-Polder力；(4)减轻悬浮介质纳米球实验中波动引起的退相干，实现悬浮纳米粒子的宏观量子叠加和相关态。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nanoscale quantum optical systems enhance the efficacy of light-matter interactions by confining light in small regions. Such systems are integral to a myriad of emerging quantum technological applications: from building single-photon devices and storing and transmitting quantum information over long distances, to facilitating precision tests of fundamental physics. Thus, with growing efforts to miniaturize quantum systems, both with the fundamental motivation to explore quantum phenomena at nanoscales and also with the practical goal of developing modular on-chip architectures, atom-surface interactions at nanoscales become a central facet of developing novel quantum systems. However, when interfacing atoms at nanoscales from photonic structures, the ever-present quantum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field critically limit the ability to trap and control atoms. This work will develop ways to engineer such quantum fluctuation phenomena – forces, dissipation and decoherence – by leveraging the collective behavior of atomic systems and the ability to manipulate atoms with lasers. Overcoming these critical challenges in the design of nanoscale quantum systems will enable novel functionalities for quantum devices. In addition to the research goals, the PI will train a diverse undergraduate and graduate student workforce at the exciting intersection of Quantum Science and Engineering. As a part of the educational efforts, the PI will develop a multidisciplinary senior level course on Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, engaging students from a diverse array of Science and Engineering majors. This research will build a driven-dissipative Open Quantum Systems approach to engineering quantum fluctuation phenomena – Casimir-Polder forces, dissipation and decoherence – in collective atomic systems near surfaces with the goal to achieve better control and coherence of nanoscale quantum optical systems. The proposed program will build and advance new tools to control quantum fluctuation phenomena, with four main thrusts: (1) Realizing well-controlled and coherent atomic systems at distances of 10-100 nanometers from surfaces by developing near-surface trapping and cooling schemes; (2) Extending the framework of Casimir Physics and macroscopic QED to study fluctuation phenomena with objects that can be prepared in quantum superpositions, entangled or collective states and driven externally; (3) Guiding experiments on high-precision measurements of Casimir-Polder forces with atomic diffraction via nanogratings for creating repulsive drive induced Casimir-Polder forces and manipulating Casimir-Polder forces using collective effects; and (4) Mitigating fluctuation-induced decoherence in experiments with levitated dielectric nanospheres, to realize macroscopic quantum superpositions and correlated states of levitated nanoparticles.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.