Entangled photons and ultracold atoms for studies of fundamental quantum mechanics and applications to quantum information

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My research group uses both entangled photons and ultracold atoms to study novel quantum phenomena, specifically in relation to the challenges and questions raised by the exciting new applications in quantum information science, and to studying foundational issues in quantum mechanics. Over the past 15 years, experimental capabilities for control of quantum systems have reached a level that makes it reasonable to expect widespread applications, ranging from quantum information processing to coherent control of reactions to quantum simulations of previously intractable systems. In particular, it is now well understood that quantum information is qualitatively different from its classical cousin, and a large international effort aims at building the systems which will allow us to take advantage of the exponential power of quantum information processing. Over the next five years, we propose principally to (1) develop advanced techniques for generating novel multi-photon entangled states, and investigate their properties and applications; (2) use our optical lattice experiment to further study quantum control and measurement techniques in the context of the long-term problem of controlling quantum devices; (3) use our newly-developed atom-ready source of quantum light in conjunction with our ultracold atoms to study new paradigms in quantum light-matter interactions; (4) use the interactions of our Bose-Einstein condensate with time-dependent potentials to address long-standing questions over tunneling times and other fundamental issues in quantum mechanics; and (5) continue our optical studies of different paradigms of applied quantum measurement. Goal (3) is a particularly timely quest, as recent proposals make it look like optical nonlinearities at the quantum level may be within reach, and have also shown how they could be used to build a quantum computer. Having developed a system for producing some of the coldest atoms in the universe, along with the highest-spectral-brightness source of entangled photons in the world, we are in an excellent position to take on this exciting challenge.