Implementing quantum electrodynamics with ultracold atomic systems

Abstract

We discuss the experimental engineering of model systems for the description of quantum electrodynamics (QED) in one spatial dimension via a mixture of bosonic 23 Na and fermionic 6 Li atoms. The local gauge symmetry is realized in an optical superlattice, using heteronuclear bosonfermion spin-changing interactions which preserve the total spin in every local collision. We consider a large number of bosons residing in the coherent state of a Bose-Einstein condensate on each link between the fermion lattice sites, such that the behavior of lattice QED in the continuum limit can be recovered. The discussion about the range of possible experimental parameters builds, in particular, upon experiences with related setups of fermions interacting with coherent samples of bosonic atoms. We determine the atomic system's parameters required for the description of fundamental QED processes, such as Schwinger pair production and string breaking. This is achieved by benchmark calculations of the atomic system and of QED itself using functional integral techniques. Our results demonstrate that the dynamics of one-dimensional QED may be realized with ultracold atoms using state-of-the-art experimental resources. The experimental setup proposed may provide a unique access to longstanding open questions for which classical computational methods are no longer applicable. OPEN ACCESS RECEIVED

Real-time simulation of the Schwinger effect with matrix product states

“…The MPS method provides a unique means to benchmark quantum simulators of the massive Schwinger model or related models using ultracold ions or atoms in optical lattices [40][41][42][43][44]. On the other hand, it is a major goal to extend this type of real-time simulation technique to more than one spatial dimension using projected entangled pair states (PEPS) [4].…”

Hidden Order and Symmetry Protected Topological States in Quantum Link Ladders

“…Various ideas for creating dynamical gauge fields have been proposed [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Recently the Schwinger model has been simulated in ion chains [18].…”

“…Realization.-There have been numerous proposals for the realization of QLM models [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]53]. Here we introduce a simple scheme (Fig.…”

Sauter–Schwinger effect with a quantum gas

“…Future cold atom experiments with repulsively interacting fermions could probe this 'excitionic' shift as well, allowing more quantitative comparison with higher order corrections to the threshold field strength. In addition, the pair-creation phenomena occurring in strongly interacting field theories, even absent applied electric fields, may also be realized using mixtures of ultracold bosons and fermions [9,10] and has already been realized using trapped ions [44].…”

“…Electric fields on this scale are not experimentally accessible; even the largest laboratory fields produced by ultrashort laser pulses [6] fall short, making direct observation of pair creation out of reach of current experiments. Subsequently, analog experiments have been proposed that simulate high-field effects with laboratory accessible energy scales in cold atoms [7][8][9][10], graphene [11][12][13][14][15][16], and other condensed matter systems [12,[17][18][19].…”