Gases of neutral atoms and particularly laser cooled atomic gases are fertile ground for the study of quantum optics and quantum information. We have developed periodic potentials of light capable of trapping cold atoms, called optical lattices. We use these optical lattices in conjunction with laser-cooled and Bose-condensed atoms to study implementations of quantum logic operations, the building blocks for a quantum computer. In addition, we use these systems as many-body simulators to study model condensed matter physics.  Highly excited Rydberg atoms provide a means whereby long range interactions between atom-photon hybrids (polaritons) allow implementation of novel quantum gates. The isolation of neutral atoms from the environment makes them particularly attractive for such studies, where coherent manipulation of the internal and external states of the atoms will be required. Our atomic and photonic platforms allow conversion of quantum bits of information stored in atoms to quantum bits stored in photons, yielding transportable quantum information, and allowing the creation of quantum information networks. We also generate squeezed light and entangled light beams using 4-wave mixing techniques in warm atomic vapor. These beams include multi-spatial-mode versions that can be used for quantum imaging. We also study the creation of non-classical light in both warm and cold atom platforms for quantum metrology. We study “slow” and "fast" light in both warm and cold gases, as well as methods of constructing quantum optical amplifiers and memories. As a part of the Joint Quantum Institute we conduct research in collaboration with other experimental and theoretical groups at NIST and the University of Maryland and around the world. A few examples of our work are:

“Strong-coupling phases of the spin-orbit-coupled spin-1 Bose-Hubbard chain: Odd-integer Mott lobes and helical magnetic phases,” J. Pixley, W. Cole, I. Spielman, M .Rizzi, and S. Das Sarma, Phys. Rev. A 96, 043622 (2017).

“Two-dimensional superexchange-mediated magnetization dynamics in an optical lattice,” R. C. Brown, R. Wyllie, S. B. Koller, E. A. Goldschmidt, M. Foss-Feig, and J. V. Porto, Science 348, 540 (2015).

“Quantum mutual information of an entangled state propagating through a fast-light medium,” J. Clark, R. Glasser, Q. Glorieux, U. Vogl, T. Li, K. Jones, P. Letter, Nat. Phot. 8, 515 (2014).

key words

Quantum mechanics; Cold atomic gases; Quantum information; Quantum simulation; Non-classical light

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants