Quantum technologies with ultracold atoms for atomic clocks, interferometry and quantum simulation

在量子技术中，超冷原子是一种非常有用的工具，可用于构建实用的测量设备。特别令人感兴趣的是旋转传感装置在基于量子的自主导航装置中的应用。我们在实验量子光学和光子学小组的研究项目使用量子气体，冷却到超低温来创造玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚物（BECs）。我们研究的主要目的之一是演示一种用于BEC干涉测量的集成光学装置。一个可能的结果是BEC技术转化为实用的导航工具。该项目将以我们在斯特拉斯克莱德的现有活动为基础，利用相干物质波进行原子干涉测量，并研究环形引导陷阱，探索开发用于旋转传感的小型化技术的可能性。我们将使用微加工技术（发表在2013年5月的《自然纳米技术》上：dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.47），该技术是我们为激光冷却装置的小型化而开发的，具有任意设计光势的前景。目前的项目有两个主要方面。该学生将参与EQOP小组现有的BEC干涉测量研究项目，同时将现有知识应用于微型制造设备的开发。一个关键的目标是演示激光冷却和BEC干涉测量的集成装置，如果光学晶格结构集成，也可以用于量子模拟。该项目最终将为基于芯片的BEC技术转化为实用工具提供信息。

Ultracold atoms are a very useful tool in Quantum Technologies for building practical measurement devices. Of particular interest are rotation sensing devices with applications in quantum-based, autonomous navigation devices. Our research programme in the experimental quantum optics and photonics group uses quantum gases, cooled to ultralow temperatures to create Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs).One of the key aims of our research is the demonstration of a device using integrated optics for BEC interferometry. A possible outcome would be the translation of BEC technology into a practical navigation tool. This project will build on our existing activities at Strathclyde in atom interferometry with coherent matter waves and work on ring-shaped guided traps to explore the possibilities for developing miniaturised technology for rotation sensing. We will use microfabrication technology (published in Nature Nanotechnology, May 2013: dx.doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.47), which we have developed for miniaturisation of laser cooling setups with the prospect for arbitrary design of optical potentials. There are two main strands to the present project. The student will participate in the existing research programmes in BEC interferometry at the EQOP group and in parallel with that apply existing knowledge in the development of a micro-fabricated device. A key aim is the demonstration of an integrated device for laser cooling and BEC interferometry, which can also be used for quantum simulation, if optical lattices structures were integrated. This project would ultimately inform the translation of chip-based BEC technology into a practical tool.