37 lines
1.9 KiB
TeX
37 lines
1.9 KiB
TeX
% ************************** Thesis Abstract *****************************
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% Use `abstract' as an option in the document class to print only the titlepage and the abstract.
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\begin{abstract}
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Trapping ultracold atoms in optical lattices enabled the study of
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strongly correlated phenomena in an environment that is far more
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controllable and tunable than what was possible in condensed
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matter. Here, we consider coupling these systems to quantised light
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where the quantum nature of both the optical and matter fields play
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equally important roles in order to push the boundaries of
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what is possible in ultracold atomic systems.
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We show that light can serve as a nondestructive probe of the
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quantum state of the matter. By condering a global
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measurement scheme we show that it is possible to distinguish a
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highly delocalised phase like a superfluid from insulators. We also
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demonstrate that light scattering reveals not only density
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correlations, but also matter-field interference.
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By taking into account the effect of measurement backaction we show
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that the measurement can efficiently compete with the local atomic
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dynamics of the quantum gas. This can generate long-range
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correlations and entanglement which in turn leads to macroscopic
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multimode oscillations accross the whole lattice when the
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measurement is weak and correlated tunneling, as well as selective
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suppression and enhancement of dynamical processes beyond the
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projective limit of the quantum Zeno effect in the strong
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measurement regime.
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We also consider quantum measurement backaction due to the
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measurement of matter-phase-related variables such as global phase
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coherence. We show how this unconventional approach opens up new
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opportunities to affect system evolution and demonstrate how this
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can lead to a new class of measurement projections thus extending
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the measurement postulate for the case of strong competition with
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the system’s own evolution.
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\end{abstract}
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