Project Details
Projekt
Quantum crystals of matter and light
Subject Area
Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
Term
from 2014 to 2018
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 254087235
The interplay of noise and nonlinearities plays an essential role in the dynamics of physical systems in nature. Their combined action is known to give rise to counterintuitive effects, such as the emergence of regular behavior as the noise level increases. Understanding the role of noise and nonlinearities in the quantum dynamics is an important question of fundamental research and a crucial issue for quantum technological applications, where one aims at robust quantum coherent dynamics in systems of mesoscopic size. Therefore, the recent observation of stationary regular structures of photons and atoms in high-finesse optical resonators constitutes a prominent instance of pattern formation solely through quantum dynamics. Spatial order in fact results from the interplay between quantum noise and coherent multiple scattering of photons inside the resonator. It is a quantum nonlinear interaction between scattering particles that generates patterns of photons and atoms in the presence of noise and dissipation. Our goal is to provide insight over the semiclassical and the quantum limits of the composite dynamics, and in particular on the role of thermal and quantum noise and spatial disorder in the occurrence of selforganization of photons and atoms in cavity quantum electrodynamics. This will provide a basis for quantum technological applications, such as for quantum simulators, sensors, and metrology based on these systems.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
Austria, Switzerland
Participating Persons
Dr. Ulrik Tobias Donner; Professor Dr. Helmut Ritsch
