Thermally-robust spin correlations between two 85Rb atoms in an optical microtrap
Abstract
The complex collisional properties of atoms fundamentally limit investigations into a range of processes in many-atom ensembles. In contrast, the bottom-up assembly of few- and many-body systems from individual atoms offers a controlled approach to isolating and studying such collisional processes. Here, we use optical tweezers to individually assemble pairs of trapped Rb atoms, and study the spin dynamics of the two-body system in a thermal state. The spin-2 atoms show strong pair correlation between magnetic sublevels on timescales exceeding one second, with measured relative number fluctuations dB below quantum shot noise, limited only by detection efficiency. Spin populations display relaxation dynamics consistent with simulations and theoretical predictions for Rb spin interactions, and contrary to the coherent spin waves witnessed in finite-temperature many-body experiments and zero-temperature two-body experiments. Our experimental approach offers a versatile platform for studying two-body quantum dynamics and may provide a route to thermally-robust entanglement generation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1807.01822,
title = {Thermally-robust spin correlations between two 85Rb atoms in an optical microtrap},
author = {Pimonpan Sompet and Stuart S. Szigeti and Eyal Schwartz and Ashton S. Bradley and Mikkel F. Andersen},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1807.01822},
year = {2019}
}
Comments
11 pages + 7 pages supplemental, 5 figures. Close to published version, note slight change in title