Atomtronics
Atomtronics is the emerging quantum technology of matter-wave circuits which coherently guide propagating ultra-cold atoms.[1][2] The systems typically include components analogous to those found in electronic or optical systems, such as beam splitters and transistors. Applications range from studies of fundamental physics to the development of practical devices.
Etymology
Atomtronics is a portmanteau of "atom" and "electronics", in reference to the creation of atomic analogues of electronic components, such as transistors and diodes, and also electronic materials such as semiconductors.[3] The field itself has considerable overlap with atom optics and quantum simulation, and is not strictly limited to the development of electronic-like components.[4][5]
Methodology
Three major elements are required for an atomtronic circuit. The first is a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is needed for its coherent and superfluid properties, although an ultracold Fermi gas may also be used for certain applications. The second is a tailored trapping potential, which can be generated optically, magnetically, or using a combination of both. The final element is a method to induce the movement of atoms within the potential, which can be achieved in several ways. For example, a transistor-like atomtronic circuit may be realized by a ring-shaped trap divided into two by two moveable weak barriers, with the two separate parts of the ring acting as the drain and the source and the barriers acting as the gate. As the barriers move, atoms flow from the source to the drain.[6] It is now possible to coherently guide matterwaves over distances of up to 40 cm in ring-shaped atomtronic matterwave guides.[7]
Applications
The field of atomtronics is still very young. Any schemes realized thus far are proof-of-principle. Applications include:
- gravimetry
- rotational sensing via the Sagnac effect
- quantum computing
Obstacles to the development of practical sensing devices are largely due to the technical challenges of creating Bose-Einstein condensates. They require bulky lab-based setups not easily suitable for transportation. However, creating portable experimental setups is an active area of research.
References
- ^ Amico, L.; Boshier, M.; Birkl, G.; Minguzzi, A.; Miniatura, C.; Kwek, L.-C.; Aghamalyan, D.; Ahufinger, V.; Anderson, D.; Andrei, N.; Arnold, A. S.; Baker, M.; Bell, T. A.; Bland, T.; Brantut, J. P. (2021). "Roadmap on Atomtronics: State of the art and perspective". AVS Quantum Science. 3 (3): 039201. doi:10.1116/5.0026178. ISSN 2639-0213.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Amico, Luigi; Anderson, Dana; Boshier, Malcolm; Brantut, Jean-Philippe; Kwek, Leong-Chuan; Minguzzi, Anna; von Klitzing, Wolf (2022-06-14). "Atomtronic circuits: from many-body physics to quantum technologies". arXiv:2107.08561 [cond-mat, physics:quant-ph].
- ^ Seaman, B. T.; Krämer, M.; Anderson, D. Z.; Holland, M. J. (2007-02-20). "Atomtronics: Ultracold-atom analogs of electronic devices". Physical Review A. 75 (2). American Physical Society (APS): 023615. arXiv:cond-mat/0606625. doi:10.1103/physreva.75.023615. ISSN 1050-2947.
- ^ Amico, Luigi; Osterloh, Andreas; Cataliotti, Francesco (2005-08-01). "Quantum Many Particle Systems in Ring-Shaped Optical Lattices". Physical Review Letters. 95 (6). American Physical Society (APS): 063201. arXiv:cond-mat/0501648. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.95.063201. ISSN 0031-9007.
- ^ Labouvie, Ralf; Santra, Bodhaditya; Heun, Simon; Wimberger, Sandro; Ott, Herwig (2015-07-27). "Negative Differential Conductivity in an Interacting Quantum Gas". Physical Review Letters. 115 (5). American Physical Society (APS): 050601. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.115.050601. ISSN 0031-9007.
- ^ Jendrzejewski, F.; Eckel, S.; Murray, N.; Lanier, C.; Edwards, M.; Lobb, C. J.; Campbell, G. K. (2014-07-25). "Resistive Flow in a Weakly Interacting Bose-Einstein Condensate". Physical Review Letters. 113 (4). American Physical Society (APS): 045305. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.045305. ISSN 0031-9007.
- ^ Pandey, Saurabh; Mas, Hector; Drougakis, Giannis; Thekkeppatt, Premjith; Bolpasi, Vasiliki; Vasilakis, Georgios; Poulios, Konstantinos; von Klitzing, Wolf (2019). "Hypersonic Bose–Einstein condensates in accelerator rings". Nature. 570 (7760). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 205–209. arXiv:1907.08521. doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1273-5. ISSN 0028-0836.
External links
- Elizabeth Gibney (February 2014). "Atom circuits a step closer". Nature. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
- Andrew J. Daley (July 2015). "Towards an Atomtronic Diode". Physics.
