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Quenching an ultracold bosonic gas in a ring across the Bose–Einstein condensation phase transition is known, and has been experimentally observed, to lead to the spontaneous emergence of persistent currents. The present work examines how these phenomena generalize to a system of two experimentally accessible explicitly two-dimensional co-planar rings with a common interface, or to the related lemniscate geometry, and demonstrates an emerging independence of winding numbers across the rings, which can exhibit flow both in the same and in opposite directions. The observed persistence of such findings in the presence of dissipative coupled evolution due to the local character of the domain formation across the phase transition and topological protection of the randomly emerging winding numbers should be within current experimental reach.

We present numerical and analytical results for the reflection and transmission properties of matter wave solitons impinging on localized scattering potentials in one spatial dimension. Our mean field analysis identifies regimes where the solitons behave more like waves or more like particles as a result of the interplay between the dispersive wave propagation and the attractive interactions between the atoms. For a bright soliton propagating together with a dark soliton void in a two-species Bose-Einstein condensate of atoms with repulsive interactions, we find different reflection and transmission properties of the dark and the bright components., 11 pages, 8 figures

Here we review the field of atom chips in the context of Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) as well as cold matter in general. Twenty years after the first realization of the BEC and fifteen years after the realization of the atom chip, the latter has been found to enable extraordinary feats: from producing BECs at a rate of several per second, through the realization of matter-wave interferometry, and all the way to novel probing of surfaces and new forces. In addition, technological applications are also being intensively pursued. This review will describe these developments and more, including new ideas which have not yet been realized., Comment: 44 pages, 36 figures, 389 references, table of contents, list of abbreviations

Bosonic two-ring ladders constitute an important class of atomtronic circuits, where coherent current flows not only can offer a new insight into many-body physics, but also can play the role of actual degrees of freedom, and hence allow for a viable implementation of cold-atom based devices and qubit systems. In this work, we exhaustively investigate the ground state properties and the low-lying energy spectrum of two linearly coupled Bose-Hubbard rings. We show that the competition among interactions, intra- and inter-ring hopping processes gives place to a rather rich physical scenario, where Mott-like states and (different kinds of) superfluid-like states emerge. The latter ones depend also on the (in)commensurate filling of the atoms. Our analysis, carried out within a simple analytical framework and by means of the exact numerical diagonalization of the system Hamiltonian, provides one with a rather complete characterization of the static properties of the two-ring ladder, including, but not limited to, coherence, fragmentation, correlations, and entanglement. We complement our investigation by studying how these indicators depend on the commensurability of the total number of bosons with respect to the total number of sites and show that the two stacked rings are always entangled for an odd number of atoms., v2: improved version. Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics B

Sometimes, similarities between underlying physics allow optoelectronic-device calculational techniques to be used in AMO problems. This talk presents two examples: (a) atomtronics (devices based on Bose-Einstein condensation), (b) T 2 in NV centers in diamond.

In contrast to the ordinary spin Hall effect (SHE), which is a single-body phenomenon caused by the spin-orbit interaction (SOI), we propose amany-body SHE induced by the dipole-dipole interaction (DDI) between particles and demonstrate it in a system of ultracold magnetic atoms. While the SOI usually requires the breaking of space-inversion symmetry, the DDI preserves it. The many-body SHE can, in principle, be observed in a wide range of systems with large dipole moments and offers a powerful tool to generate spin currents, an essential ingredient in spintronics and atomtronics., Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures

Ultracold atoms have proven to be a powerful platform for studying many-body physics. However the inhomegeneity of atomic clouds induced by potentials commonly used to trap the atoms constitutes a limitation for studies probing large length scales. Here we present the implementation of a new versatile setup to study two-dimensional Bose gases, combining a tunable in-plane box potential with a strong and efficient confinement along the third direction. We study different excitations of the system, either of internal degrees of freedom of the atoms with light scattering, or of their collective motion with phonon propagation. The slab geometry is particularly well suited for light scattering studies. It allows one to probe high atomic densities, leading to strong induced dipole-dipole interactions, while keeping a good enough light transmission for measurements. We monitor the deviation from the single atom behavior for near resonant light by varying the atomic density. We additionally monitor the spreading of photons inside the slab by injecting light only at the center of a disk of atoms. We also investigate collective excitations of the atomic gas. We measure the speed of sound which is linked to the superfluid density of the cloud and compare our results to a two-fluid hydrodynamic model predictions. Using a relevant geometry, we additionally study how an isolated system goes back to equilibrium. This is done by imaging the phase of the resulting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) after merging up to twelve BECs., Les atomes ultrafroids constituent depuis une vingtaine d’années un domaine fructueux pour l’étude de la physique à N corps. Cependant l’inhomogénéité des nuages atomiques, induite par les méthodes de piégeage utilisées habituellement, constitue une limite pour les études portant sur de grandes échelles de longueur. Nous reportons ici la mise en place d’un nouveau dispositif expérimental, combinant un potentiel modulable à bords raides et fond plat dans le plan atomique, avec un confinement versatile dans la troisième direction. Nous nous intéressons à différentes excitations du système, premièrement des degrés de liberté internes des atomes via leur interaction avec la lumière, puis deuxièmement de leur mouvement collectif avec la propagation de phonons. La répartition des atomes dans un plan est particulièrement adaptée aux études de diffusion de la lumière. Elle permet en effet de sonder de fortes densités atomiques, entraînant de fortes interactions dipôle-dipôle induites, tout en gardant un signal transmis suffisant pour effectuer des mesures. Nous avons mesuré la déviation au comportement d’un atome isolé pour de la lumière proche de résonance lorsque la densité atomique est modifiée. Nous avons également étudié la diffusion de photons dans un disque d’atomes en injectant de la lumière seulement au centre du disque. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés aux excitations collectives du gaz. Nous avons mesuré la vitesse du son dans le milieu, qui est liée à la fraction superfluide du système, et comparé nos résultats aux prédictions d’un modèle hydrodynamique à deux fluides. En utilisant une géométrie adaptée, nous avons en outre étudié la dynamique de retour à l’équilibre d’un système isolé, en imageant la phase du condensat de Bose-Einstein résultant de la fusion de jusqu’à douze condensats.

Ultracold atoms have proven to be a powerful platform for studying many-body physics. However the inhomegeneity of atomic clouds induced by potentials commonly used to trap the atoms constitutes a limitation for studies probing large length scales. Here we present the implementation of a new versatile setup to study two-dimensional Bose gases, combining a tunable in-plane box potential with a strong and efficient confinement along the third direction. We study different excitations of the system, either of internal degrees of freedom of the atoms with light scattering, or of their collective motion with phonon propagation. The slab geometry is particularly well suited for light scattering studies. It allows one to probe high atomic densities, leading to strong induced dipole-dipole interactions, while keeping a good enough light transmission for measurements. We monitor the deviation from the single atom behavior for near resonant light by varying the atomic density. We additionally monitor the spreading of photons inside the slab by injecting light only at the center of a disk of atoms. We also investigate collective excitations of the atomic gas. We measure the speed of sound which is linked to the superfluid density of the cloud and compare our results to a two-fluid hydrodynamic model predictions. Using a relevant geometry, we additionally study how an isolated system goes back to equilibrium. This is done by imaging the phase of the resulting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) after merging up to twelve BECs.; Les atomes ultrafroids constituent depuis une vingtaine d’années un domaine fructueux pour l’étude de la physique à N corps. Cependant l’inhomogénéité des nuages atomiques, induite par les méthodes de piégeage utilisées habituellement, constitue une limite pour les études portant sur de grandes échelles de longueur. Nous reportons ici la mise en place d’un nouveau dispositif expérimental, combinant un potentiel modulable à bords raides et fond plat dans le plan atomique, avec un confinement versatile dans la troisième direction. Nous nous intéressons à différentes excitations du système, premièrement des degrés de liberté internes des atomes via leur interaction avec la lumière, puis deuxièmement de leur mouvement collectif avec la propagation de phonons. La répartition des atomes dans un plan est particulièrement adaptée aux études de diffusion de la lumière. Elle permet en effet de sonder de fortes densités atomiques, entraînant de fortes interactions dipôle-dipôle induites, tout en gardant un signal transmis suffisant pour effectuer des mesures. Nous avons mesuré la déviation au comportement d’un atome isolé pour de la lumière proche de résonance lorsque la densité atomique est modifiée. Nous avons également étudié la diffusion de photons dans un disque d’atomes en injectant de la lumière seulement au centre du disque. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés aux excitations collectives du gaz. Nous avons mesuré la vitesse du son dans le milieu, qui est liée à la fraction superfluide du système, et comparé nos résultats aux prédictions d’un modèle hydrodynamique à deux fluides. En utilisant une géométrie adaptée, nous avons en outre étudié la dynamique de retour à l’équilibre d’un système isolé, en imageant la phase du condensat de Bose-Einstein résultant de la fusion de jusqu’à douze condensats.

We evaluate the performance and phase diffusion of trapped $^{87}$Rb atoms in an atom-chip sensor with Ramsey interferometry and Hahn's spin echo in the time and phase domains. We trace out how the phase uncertainty of interference fringes grows with time. The phase-domain spin echo enables us to attain many-second-long phase diffusion with a low-cost local oscillator that otherwise seems unrealistic to obtain with such an oscillator. In the Ramsey experiment we record interference fringes with contrast decaying in $12$ s, and with a frequency uncertainty of $80$ mHz corresponding to the dephasing time of $2.8$ s. A clear distinction is drawn between the decoherence of the atomic ensemble, and the dephasing originating from the local oscillator. Spin echo cancels most of the perturbations affecting the Ramsey experiments, and leaves the residual phase noise of only $19$ mHz mostly attributed to the local oscillator frequency instability, yielding the increased coherence time of $11.9$ s which coincides with the contrast decay time in the Ramsey sequence. A number of perturbation sources leading to homogeneous and inhomogeneous dephasing is discussed. Our atom-chip sensor is useful in probing fundamental interactions, atomtronics, microcantilever, and resonant cavity profiling in situ., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

Open many-body quantum systems have recently gained renewed interest in the context of quantum information science and quantum transport with biological clusters and ultracold atomic gases. A series of results in diverse setups is presented, based on a Master equation approach to describe the dissipative dynamics of ultracold bosons in a one-dimensional lattice. The creation of mesoscopic stable many-body structures in the lattice is predicted and the non-equilibrium transport of neutral atoms in the regime of strong and weak interactions is studied.

We analyze microscopic models of the particle source or sink which consist of a one- or two-site Bose-Hubbard model (the system) weakly coupled to a many-site Bose-Hubbard model (the reservoir). Assuming unequal filling factors for the system and reservoir, we numerically study equilibration dynamics and compare it with the solution of the master equation on the reduced density matrix of the system. Necessary conditions for the validity of the master equation approach are formulated.

I trace my DoD program management history from 1980's laser cooling and trapping, to Bose Einstein condensation, atom lasers, Fermi degenerate gases, and atomtronics, to the beginnings of QIS in the form of trapped ion qubits, optical lattices, and quantum emulation of condensed matter Hamiltonians.

Atomtronics is an emerging field in quantum technology that promises to realize ‘atomic circuit’ architectures exploiting ultra-cold atoms manipulated in versatile micro-optical circuits generated by laser fields of different shapes and intensities or micro-magnetic circuits known as atom chips. Although devising new applications for computation and information transfer is a defining goal of the field, atomtronics wants to enlarge the scope of quantum simulators and to access new physical regimes with novel fundamental science. With this focus issue we want to survey the state of the art of atomtronics-enabled quantum technology. We collect articles on both conceptual and applicative aspects of the field for diverse exploitations, both to extend the scope of the existing atom-based quantum devices and to devise platforms for new routes to quantum technology. Published version

We report on the experimental realization of a conservative optical lattice for cold atoms with sub-wavelength spatial structure. The potential is based on the nonlinear optical response of three-level atoms in laser-dressed dark states, which is not constrained by the diffraction limit of the light generating the potential. The lattice consists of a 1D array of ultra-narrow barriers with widths less than 10~nm, well below the wavelength of the lattice light, physically realizing a Kronig-Penney potential. We study the band structure and dissipation of this lattice, and find good agreement with theoretical predictions. The observed lifetimes of atoms trapped in the lattice are as long as 60 ms, nearly $10^5$ times the excited state lifetime, and could be further improved with more laser intensity. The potential is readily generalizable to higher dimension and different geometries, allowing, for example, nearly perfect box traps, narrow tunnel junctions for atomtronics applications, and dynamically generated lattices with sub-wavelength spacings., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, and supplementary material

We present a mechanism for quantum gates where the qubits are encoded in the population distribution of two component ultracold atoms trapped in a species-selective triple-well potential. The gate operation is a specific application of a new design for an atomtronics transistor where inter-species interaction is used to control transport, and can be realized with either individual atoms or aggregates like Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC). We demonstrate the operational principle with a static external potential, and show feasible implementation with a smooth dynamical potential., 5 pages,5 figures

We study the quantum transport through two specific atomtronic circuits: a Y-junction and a ring-shaped condensate pierced by an effective magnetic flux. We demonstrate that for bosons, the two circuits display Andreev-like reflections. For the Y-junction, the transport depends on the coupling strength of the Y-junction. For the ring-shaped condensate, the transport crucially depends on the particle statistics. For interacting bosons we find that the Aharonov-Bohm interference effect is absent. By breaking the translational invariance of the ring, the flux dependence can be restored. A complementary view of the problem is obtained through a specific non-equilibrium quench protocol. We find that the steady-state is independent of the flux, however the actual time-dynamics depends on the flux. The dynamics of the full closed system can be fitted with an approximated open system approach. For all the protocols we studied, we find striking differences in the dynamics of the Bose-Hubbard model and the Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Superconducting atom chips have very significant advantages in realizing trapping structures for ultracold atoms compared to conventional atom chips. We extend these advantages further by developing the ability to dynamically tailor the superconducting trap architecture. Heating the chosen parts of a superconducting film by transferring optical images onto its surface we are able to modify the current density distribution and create desired trapping potentials. This method enables us to change the shape and structure of magnetic traps, enabling versatile applications in atomtronics., Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures

In this Perspective, we present an overview of recent fundamental studies on the nature of the interaction between individual metal atoms and metal clusters and the conjugated surfaces of graphene and carbon nanotube with a particular focus on the electronic structure and chemical bonding at the metal–graphene interface. We discuss the relevance of organometallic complexes of graphitic materials to the development of a fundamental understanding of these interactions and their application in atomtronics as atomic interconnects, high mobility organometallic transistor devices, high-frequency electronic devices, organometallic catalysis (hydrogen fuel generation by photocatalytic water splitting, fuel cells, hydrogenation), spintronics, memory devices, and the next generation energy devices. We touch on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene grown on metals, the reactivity of its surface, and its use as a template for asymmetric graphene functionalization chemistry (ultrathin Janus discs). We highlight som...

We have simulated the optical properties of micro-fabricated Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) as an alternative to spatial light modulators (SLMs) for producing non-trivial light potentials to trap atoms within a lensless Fresnel arrangement. We show that binary (1-bit) FZPs with wavelength (1 \mu m) spatial resolution consistently outperform kinoforms of spatial and phase resolution comparable to commercial SLMs in root mean square error comparisons, with FZP kinoforms demonstrating increasing improvement for complex target intensity distributions. Moreover, as sub-wavelength resolution microfabrication is possible, FZPs provide an exciting possibility for the creation of static cold-atom trapping potentials useful to atomtronics, interferometry, and the study of fundamental physics., Comment: 14 pages, to appear in New Journal of Physics Atomtronics special issue

Programable spatial light modulators (SLMs) have significantly advanced the configurable optical trapping of particles. Typically, these devices are utilized in the Fourier plane of an optical system, but direct imaging of an amplitude pattern can potentially result in increased simplicity and computational speed. Here we demonstrate high-resolution direct imaging of a digital micromirror device (DMD) at high numerical apertures (NA), which we apply to the optical trapping of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). We utilise a (1200 x 1920) pixel DMD and commercially available 0.45 NA microscope objectives, finding that atoms confined in a hybrid optical/magnetic or all-optical potential can be patterned using repulsive blue-detuned (532 nm) light with 630(10) nm full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) resolution, within 5% of the diffraction limit. The result is near arbitrary control of the density the BEC without the need for expensive custom optics. We also introduce the technique of time-averaged DMD potentials, demonstrating the ability to produce multiple grayscale levels with minimal heating of the atomic cloud, by utilising the high switching speed (20 kHz maximum) of the DMD. These techniques will enable the realization and control of diverse optical potentials for superfluid dynamics and atomtronics applications with quantum gases. The performance of this system in a direct imaging configuration has wider application for optical trapping at non-trivial NAs., Comment: 9 pages

In this paper, we present an electrode geometry for the manipulation of ultracold, rovibrational ground state NaK molecules. The electrode system allows to induce a dipole moment in trapped diatomic NaK molecules with a magnitude up to 68% of their internal dipole moment along any direction in a given two-dimensional plane. The strength, the sign and the direction of the induced dipole moment is therefore fully tunable. The maximal relative variation of the electric field over the trapping volume is below 10-6. At the desired electric field value of 10 kV cm-1 this corresponds to a deviation of 0.01 V cm-1. Furthermore, the possibility to create strong electric field gradients provides the opportunity to address molecules in single layers of an optical lattice. The electrode structure is made of transparent indium tin oxide and combines large optical access for sophisticated optical dipole traps and optical lattice configurations with the possibility to create versatile electric field configurations. Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research QUEST ERC Starting Grant POLAR DFG/GRK/1729 DFG/GRK/1991

Atomtronics has the potential for engineering new types of functional devices, such as Josephson junctions (JJs). Previous studies have mainly focused on JJs whose ground states have 0 or $\pi $ superconducting phase difference across the junctions, while arbitrarily tunable phase JJs may have important applications in superconducting electronics and quantum computation. Here we show that a phase tunable JJ can be implemented in a spin-orbit coupled cold atomic gas with the magnetic tunneling barrier generated by a spin-dependent focused laser beam. We consider the JJ confined in either a linear harmonic trap or a circular ring trap. In the ring trap, the magnetic barrier induces a spontaneous mass current for the ground state of the JJ, demonstrating the magnetoelectric effects of cold atoms., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures

WOS: 000372365300002, A spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein-condensed cloud of atoms confined in an annular trapping potential shows a variety of phases that we investigate in the present study. Starting with the non-interacting problem, the homogeneous phase that is present in an untrapped system is replaced by a sinusoidal density variation in the limit of a very narrow annulus. In the case of an untrapped system there is another phase with a striped-like density distribution, and its counterpart is also found in the limit of a very narrow annulus. As the width of the annulus increases, this picture persists qualitatively. Depending on the relative strength between the inter- and the intra-components, interactions either favor the striped phase, or suppress it, in which case either a homogeneous, or a sinusoidal-like phase appears. Interactions also give rise to novel solutions with a nonzero circulation., Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council; NanoLund, E O K, G M K, and F M acknowledge the hospitality of Lund University. This work was partially financed by the Swedish Research Council and 'NanoLund'.

The topological Kondo (TK) model has been proposed in solid-state quantum devices as a way to realize non-Fermi liquid behaviors in a controllable setting. Another motivation behind the TK model proposal is the demand to demonstrate the quantum dynamical properties of Majorana fermions, which are at the heart of their potential use in topological quantum computation. Here we consider a junction of crossed Tonks-Girardeau gases arranged in a star-geometry (forming a Y -junction), and we perform a theoretical analysis of this system showing that it provides a physical realization of the topological Kondo model in the realm of cold atom systems. Using computer-generated holography, we experimentally implement a Y-junction suitable for atom trapping, with controllable and independent parameters. The junction and the transverse size of the atom waveguides are of the order of 5 micrometers, leading to favorable estimates for the Kondo temperature and for the coupling across the junction. Since our results show that all the required theoretical and experimental ingredients are available, this provides the demonstration of an ultracold atom device that may in principle exhibit the topological Kondo effect., Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures. v2: main text expanded, references added

Recent experimental progress have revealed Meissner and Vortex phases in low-dimensional ultracold atoms systems. Atomtronic setups can realize ring ladders, while explicitly taking the finite size of the system into account. This enables the engineering of quantized chiral currents and phase slips in-between them. We find that the mesoscopic scale modifies the current. Full control of the lattice configuration reveals a reentrant behavior of Vortex and Meissner phases. Our approach allows a feasible diagnostic of the currents' configuration through time of flight measurements., Comment: To be published in Quantum Sci. Technol

Optical Feshbach resonance can induce spatially varying interactions in ultra-cold atoms. Its applications to pancake-shaped clouds of bosons and fermions enable one to study several fresh phenomena. We examine possibilities of unexplored structures such as a bosonic superfluid enclave inside a Mott insulator and a normal-gas core enclosed by a fermionic superfluid shell. We discuss feasible experimental setups and signatures of those interesting structures. While a superfluid enclave in a Mott insulator may be useful for atomic devices in atomtronics, the superconducting islands observed in scanning–tunneling microscopy of heavily underdoped high-temperature superconductors may be simulated by ultra-cold fermions.

With the announcement of t he recent successful production of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of photons, a circle has been completed which started in 1925 with the vision of Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose – a sustained macroscopic condensed state of matter where all atoms are in the same lowest quantum state. The creation of an all-optical BEC, involving a surprisingly straightforward “tabletop” method which bypasses the normally requisite laser/evaporative cooling equipment and ultra-high vacuum chambers necessary for production of the standard delicate atomic BEC, elevates this phenomenon to a new level well beyond its current perception as mere laboratory curiosity. Accordingly, this development certainly heralds eventual incorporation of atomic and photon BECs as standard operating components of energy-efficient mechanical, optical and electrical systems, implying novel ingenious engineering protocols amenable to all the tools of non-linear and quantum optics. Pointing towards such a promising technological future are the suggestion that a photon BEC could serve as a new high-energy ultra-violet (UV) laser photon source, as well as the recent unprecedented implementation of a closed-loop atom circuit (toroidal atomic BEC) demonstrating precise control of superfluid current flow, forecasting the coveted development of an atomic SQUID. Perhaps more significantly, the new highly robust and manageable optical BEC will allow heretofore unfathomable precise probing of the atomic and nano-levels of nature, affording novel high-quality testing procedures of the major foundations of quantum mechanics itself. Such a primary advancement, providing a clearer glimpse into the microscopic realms, may present us as never before with an unprecedented view of the quantum engine that underpins physical reality itself and help place the contextual nature of entanglement and quantum superposition on a firmer foundation. Thus, further progress in achieving mastery over the precise flexible manipulation of BEC states could demonstrate that quantum contextuality might be an unsuspected over-arching archetypal principle in nature, leading to new insight in regards to the interpretation of quantum mechanics as applied to all levels of nature. Moreover, it will be shown that this concealed and hence heretofore unsuspected contextual aspect of natural laws, as exemplified by the dynamics underlying BEC structure, could be brought to bear to account for physical anomalies inexplicable using current paradigms, such as the claimed energy yields from low-energy nuclear reactions (as represented by the so-called process of “cold fusion”), making this phenomenon more tractable and rendered less controversial.

Mott insulators provide stable quantum states and long coherence times to due to small number fluctuations, making them good candidates for quantum memory and atomic circuits. We propose a proof-of-principle for a 1D Mott switch using an ultracold Bose gas and optical lattice. With time-evolving block decimation simulations -- efficient matrix product state methods -- we design a means for transient parameter characterization via a local excitation for ease of engineering into more complex atomtronics. We perform the switch operation by tuning the intensity of the optical lattice, and thus the interaction strength through a conductance transition due to the confined modifications of the "wedding cake" Mott structure. We demonstrate the time-dependence of Fock state transmission and fidelity of the excitation as a means of tuning up the device in a double well and as a measure of noise performance. Two-point correlations via the $g^{(2)}$ measure provide additional information regarding superfluid fragments on the Mott insulating background due to the confinement of the potential.

This article reviews recent experimental and theoretical progress on many-body phenomena in dilute, ultracold gases. Its focus are effects beyond standard weak-coupling descriptions, like the Mott-Hubbard-transition in optical lattices, strongly interacting gases in one and two dimensions or lowest Landau level physics in quasi two-dimensional gases in fast rotation. Strong correlations in fermionic gases are discussed in optical lattices or near Feshbach resonances in the BCS-BEC crossover., revised version, accepted for publication in Rev. Mod. Phys

Spatial gaps correspond to the projection in position space of the gaps of a periodic structure whose envelope varies spatially. They can be easily generated in cold atomic physics using finite-size optical lattice, and provide a new kind of tunnel barriers which can be used as a versatile tool for quantum devices. We present in detail different theoretical methods to quantitatively describe these systems, and show how they can be used to realize in one dimension matter wave Fabry-Perot cavities. We also provide experimental and numerical results that demonstrate the interest of spatial gaps structures for phase space engineering. We then generalize the concept of spatial gaps in two dimensions and show that this enables to design multiply connected cavities which generate a quantum dot structure for atoms or allow to construct curved wave guides for matter waves. At last, we demonstrate that modulating in time the amplitude of the periodic structure offers a wide variety of possible atom manipulations including the control of the scattering of an incoming wave packet, the loading of cavities delimited by spatial gaps, their coupling by multiphonon processes or the realization of a tunable source of atoms. This large range of possibilities offered by space and time engineering of optical lattices demonstrates the flexibility of such band gap structures for matter wave control, quantum simulators and atomtronics., 14 pages, 12 figures

It is known that a semi-classical analysis is not always adequate for atomtronics devices, but that a fully quantum analysis is often necessary to make reliable predictions. While small numbers of atoms at a small number of sites are tractable using the density matrix, a fully quantum analysis is often not straightforward as the system becomes larger. We show that the fully quantum positive-P representation is then a viable calculational tool. We postulate an atomtronic phase-gate consisting of four wells in a Bose-Hubbard configuration, for which the semi-classical dynamics are controllable using the phase of the atomic mode in one of the wells. We show that the quantum predictions of the positive-P representation for the performance of this device have little relation to those found semi-classically, and that the performance depends markedly on the actual quantum states of the initially occupied modes. We find that initial coherent states lead to closest to classical dynamics, but that initial Fock states give results that are quite different. A fully quantum analysis also opens the door for deeply quantum atomtronics, in which properties such as entanglement and EPR (Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen) steering become valuable technical properties of a device., 12 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev A

Spatial adiabatic passage processes for ultracold atoms trapped in tunnel-coupled cylindrically symmetric concentric potentials are investigated. Specifically, we discuss the matter-wave analogue of the rapid adiabatic passage (RAP) technique for a high fidelity and robust loading of a single atom into a harmonic ring potential from a harmonic trap, and for its transport between two concentric rings. We also consider a system of three concentric rings and investigate the transport of a single atom between the innermost and the outermost rings making use of the matter-wave analogue of the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) technique. We describe the RAP-like and STIRAP-like dynamics by means of a two- and a three-state models, respectively, obtaining good agreement with the numerical simulations of the corresponding two-dimensional Schr\"odinger equation., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

We investigate the role of interatomic interactions when a Bose gas, in a double-well potential with a finite tunneling probability (a 'Bose–Josephson junction'), is exposed to external noise. We examine the rate of decoherence of a system initially in its ground state with equal probability amplitudes in both sites. The noise may induce two kinds of effects: firstly, random shifts in the relative phase or number difference between the two wells and secondly, loss of atoms from the trap. The effects of induced phase fluctuations are mitigated by atom–atom interactions and tunneling, such that the dephasing rate may be suppressed by half its single-atom value. Random fluctuations may also be induced in the population difference between the wells, in which case atom–atom interactions considerably enhance the decoherence rate. A similar scenario is predicted for the case of atom loss, even if the loss rates from the two sites are equal. We find that if the initial state is number-squeezed due to interactions, then the loss process induces population fluctuations that reduce the coherence across the junction. We examine the parameters relevant for these effects in a typical atom chip device, using a simple model of the trapping potential, experimental data, and the theory of magnetic field fluctuations near metallic conductors. These results provide a framework for mapping the dynamical range of barriers engineered for specific applications and set the stage for more complex atom circuits ('atomtronics').

A semiclassical formalism is used to investigate the transistor-like behavior of ultracold atoms in a triple-well potential. Atom current flows from the source well, held at fixed chemical potential and temperature, into an empty drain well. In steady-state, the gate well located between the source and drain is shown to acquire a well-defined chemical potential and temperature, which are controlled by the relative height of the barriers separating the three wells. It is shown that the gate chemical potential can exceed that of the source and have a lower temperature. In electronics terminology, the source-gate junction can be reverse-biased. As a result, the device exhibits regimes of negative resistance and transresistance, indicating the presence of gain. Given an external current input to the gate, transistor-like behavior is characterized both in terms of the current gain, which can be greater than unity, and the power output of the device., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in NJP

We consider the persistent currents induced by an artificial gauge field applied to interacting ultra-cold bosonic atoms in a tight ring trap. Using both analytical and numerical methods, we study the scaling of the persistent current amplitude with the size of the ring. In the strongly interacting regime we find a power-law scaling, in good agreement with the predictions of the Luttinger-liquid theory. By exploring all interaction regimes we find that the scaling is optimal, i.e. the current amplitude decreases slower with the system size, at intermediate interactions., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

We consider a correlated Bose gas tightly confined into a ring shaped lattice, in the presence of an artificial gauge potential inducing a persistent current through it. A weak link painted on the ring acts as a source of coherent back-scattering for the propagating gas, interfering with the forward scattered current. This system defines an atomic counterpart of the rf-SQUID: the atomtronics quantum interference device (AQUID). The goal of the present study is to corroborate the emergence of an effective two-level system in such a setup and to assess its quality, in terms of its inner resolution and its separation from the rest of the many-body spectrum, across the different physical regimes. In order to achieve this aim, we examine the dependence of the qubit energy gap on the bosonic density, the interaction strength, and the barrier depth, and we show how the superposition between current states appears in the momentum distribution (time-of-flight) images. A mesoscopic ring lattice with intermediate-to-strong interactions and weak barrier depth is found to be a favorable candidate for setting up, manipulating and probing a qubit in the next generation of atomic experiments., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures

In this Perspective, we present an overview of recent fundamental studies on the nature of the interaction between individual metal atoms and metal clusters and the conjugated surfaces of graphene and carbon nanotube with a particular focus on the electronic structure and chemical bonding at the metal–graphene interface. We discuss the relevance of organometallic complexes of graphitic materials to the development of a fundamental understanding of these interactions and their application in atomtronics as atomic interconnects, high mobility organometallic transistor devices, high-frequency electronic devices, organometallic catalysis (hydrogen fuel generation by photocatalytic water splitting, fuel cells, hydrogenation), spintronics, memory devices, and the next generation energy devices. We touch on chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene grown on metals, the reactivity of its surface, and its use as a template for asymmetric graphene functionalization chemistry (ultrathin Janus discs). We highlight som...

We report the direct observation of resistive flow through a weak link in a weakly interacting atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. Two weak links separate our ring-shaped superfluid atomtronic circuit into two distinct regions, a source and a drain. Motion of these weak links allows for creation of controlled flow between the source and the drain. At a critical value of the weak link velocity, we observe a transition from superfluid flow to superfluid plus resistive flow. Working in the hydrodynamic limit, we observe a conductivity that is 4 orders of magnitude larger than previously reported conductivities for a Bose-Einstein condensate with a tunnel junction. Good agreement with zero-temperature Gross-Pitaevskii simulations and a phenomenological model based on phase slips indicate that the creation of excitations plays an important role in the resulting conductivity. Our measurements of resistive flow elucidate the microscopic origin of the dissipation and pave the way for more complex atomtronic devices., Comment: Version published in PRL

Atomtronics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that seeks new functionality by creating devices and circuits where ultra-cold atoms, often superfluids, play a role analogous to the electrons in electronics. Hysteresis is widely used in electronic circuits, e.g., it is routinely observed in superconducting circuits and is essential in rf-superconducting quantum interference devices [SQUIDs]. Furthermore, hysteresis is as fundamental to superfluidity (and superconductivity) as quantized persistent currents, critical velocity, and Josephson effects. Nevertheless, in spite of multiple theoretical predictions, hysteresis has not been previously observed in any superfluid, atomic-gas Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Here we demonstrate hysteresis in a quantized atomtronic circuit: a ring of superfluid BEC obstructed by a rotating weak link. We directly detect hysteresis between quantized circulation states, in contrast to superfluid liquid helium experiments that observed hysteresis directly in systems where the quantization of flow could not be observed and indirectly in systems that showed quantized flow. Our techniques allow us to tune the size of the hysteresis loop and to consider the fundamental excitations that accompany hysteresis. The results suggest that the relevant excitations involved in hysteresis are vortices and indicate that dissipation plays an important role in the dynamics. Controlled hysteresis in atomtronic circuits may prove to be a crucial feature for the development of practical devices, just as it has in electronic circuits like memory, digital noise filters (e.g., Schmitt triggers), and magnetometers (e.g., SQUIDs)., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures

We show that the normally weak optical quadrupole interaction in atoms is enhanced significantly when the atom interacts at near resonance with an optical vortex. In particular, the forces and torque acting on the atom are shown here to scale up with the square of the winding number l of the vortex. Because the integer l can be arranged to be large, this property allows for processes involving dipole-forbidden, but quadrupole-allowed, transitions in atoms, such as cesium and oxygen, to come into play. We show that the mechanical effects of vortex light on atoms involving translational and rotational motion as well as trapping should be significantly enhanced for quadrupole transitions and present novel features with useful implications for the emerging field of atomtronics.

We have observed well-defined phase slips between quantized persistent current states around a toroidal atomic (23Na) Bose-Einstein condensate. These phase slips are induced by a weak link (a localized region of reduced superfluid density) rotated slowly around the ring. This is analogous to the behavior of a superconducting loop with a weak link in the presence of an external magnetic field. When the weak link is rotated more rapidly, well-defined phase slips no longer occur, and vortices enter into the bulk of the condensate. A noteworthy feature of this system is the ability to dynamically vary the weak link and hence the critical current, a feature which is difficult to implement in superconducting or superfluid helium circuits.

We numerically investigate, using the time evolving block decimation algorithm, the quantum transport of ultra-cold bosonic atoms in a double well optical lattice through slow and periodic modulation of the lattice parameters (intra- and inter-well tunneling, chemical potential, etc.). The transport of atoms does not depend on the rate of change of the parameters (as along as the change is slow) and can distribute atoms in optical lattices at the quantized level without involving external forces. The transport of atoms depends on the atom filling in each double well and the interaction between atoms. In the strongly interacting region, the bosonic atoms share the same transport properties as non-interacting fermions with quantized transport at the half filling and no atom transport at the integer filling. In the weakly interacting region, the number of the transported atoms is proportional to the atom filling. We show the signature of the quantum transport from the momentum distribution of atoms that can measured in the time of flight image. A semiclassical transport model is developed to explain the numerically observed transport of bosonic atoms in the non-interacting and strongly interacting limits. The scheme may serve as an quantized battery for atomtronics applications., 8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. A

We calculate the spin-drag relaxation rate for a two-component ultracold atomic Fermi gas with positive scattering length between the two spin components. In one dimension we find that it vanishes linearly with temperature. In three dimensions the spin-drag relaxation rate vanishes quadratically with temperature for sufficiently weak interactions. This quadratic temperature dependence is present, up to logarithmic corrections, in the two-dimensional case as well. For stronger interaction the system exhibits a Stoner ferromagnetic phase transition in two and three dimensions. We show that the spin-drag relaxation rate is enhanced by spin fluctuations as the temperature approaches the critical temperature of this transition from above., Comment: Submitted to New Journal of Physics Focus Issue "Strongly Correlated Quantum Fluids: From Ultracold Quantum Gases to QCD Plasmas"

A phase-contrast approach to generate arbitrary, low-noise dipole potentials is described. These potentials are dynamic and can be exploited for matter simulators and investigations from novel quantum behavior in 1–3 dimensions to atomtronics.