Experimental realization of quantum zeno dynamics
Abstract
It is generally impossible to probe a quantum system without disturbing it. However, it is possible to exploit the back-action of quantum measurements and strong couplings to tailor and protect the coherent evolution of a quantum system. This is a profound and counterintuitive phenomenon known as quantum Zeno dynamics (QZD). Here we demonstrate QZD with a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate in a five-level Hilbert space. We harness measurements and strong couplings to dynamically disconnect different groups of quantum states and constrain the atoms to coherently evolve inside a two-level subregion. In parallel to the foundational importance due to the realization of a dynamical superselection rule and the theory of quantum measurements, this is an important step forward in protecting and controlling quantum dynamics and, broadly speaking, quantum information processing.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1309.1552,
title = {Experimental realization of quantum zeno dynamics},
author = {Florian Schäfer and Ivan Herrera and Shahid Cherukattil and Cosimo Lovecchio and Francesco Saverio Cataliotti and Filippo Caruso and Augusto Smerzi},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1309.1552},
year = {2014}
}
Comments
7 pages, 6 figures