Quantum optical time-of-arrival model in three dimensions

Hannstein, Volker; Hegerfeldt, Gerhard C.; Muga, J. G.

doi:10.1088/0953-4075/38/4/008

Cited by 20 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The most general form of J applicable for, say, a spin-0 particle 7 of mass m (=1 in our units) and charge q , moving in the presence of specified electromagnetic potentials V , A , reads Jfalse(x,tfalse)=Imfalse[ψt∗ bold∇ψtfalse]−qAfalse(x,tfalse)|ψtfalse|2, where ψ t ( x ) solves the (minimally coupled) Schrödinger equation, equation (3.4) below. To begin with, equation (2.21) has the correct physical dimension of an arrival-time distribution, and has been arrived at in various formulations of quantum mechanics, for example, Bohmian mechanics [49–55] and, for freely moving particles in one dimension, 8 by both the decoherent-histories formulation of quantum mechanics [56–59] and the analysis of specific measurement models [18,60–63] with the notable exception of [64] (see also [65,66, Sec. 2]).…”

Section: Theoretical Viewpointsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Times of arrival and gauge invariance

Das

Nöth

2021

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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We revisit the arguments underlying two well-known arrival-time distributions in quantum mechanics, viz., the Aharonov–Bohm–Kijowski (ABK) distribution, applicable for freely moving particles, and the quantum flux (QF) distribution. An inconsistency in the original axiomatic derivation of Kijowski’s result is pointed out, along with an inescapable consequence of the ‘negative arrival times’ inherent to this proposal (and generalizations thereof). The ABK free-particle restriction is lifted in a discussion of an explicit arrival-time set-up featuring a charged particle moving in a constant magnetic field. A natural generalization of the ABK distribution is in this case shown to be critically gauge-dependent. A direct comparison to the QF distribution, which does not exhibit this flaw, is drawn (its acknowledged drawback concerning the quantum backflow effect notwithstanding).

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Section: Theoretical Viewpointsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Times of arrival and gauge invariance

Das

Nöth

2021

Proc. R. Soc. A.

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“…The one-dimensional description is accurate if the atom travels in waveguides formed by optical fields [3], or by electric or magnetic interactions due to charged or current-carrying structures [2]. It can be also a good approximation in free space for atomic packets which are broad in the laser direction, perpendicular to the incident atomic direction, as demonstrated for time-of-arrival measurements by fluorescence [4].In our models the atom is in an excited state after being transmitted and, in principle, excited atoms could cross the diode "backwards," i.e., from right to left. Nevertheless, an irreversible decay from the excited state to the ground state, will effectively block any backward motion.…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Atom diode: A laser device for a unidirectional transmission of ground-state atoms

Ruschhaupt

Muga

2004

Phys. Rev. A

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An atom diode, i.e., a device that lets the ground-state atom pass in one direction but not in the opposite direction in a velocity range, is devised. It is based on the adiabatic transfer achieved with two lasers and a third laser potential that reflects the ground state.The detailed control of internal and/or translational atomic states is a major goal of quantum optics. Optical elements in which the roles of light and matter are reversed such as mirrors, gratings, interferometers, or beam splitters made of laser light or magnetic fields, allow to manipulate atomic waves. Atom chips [1,2] and atom-optic circuits [3] have been also realized recently. The aim of this paper is to propose simple models for an "atom diode," a laser device that lets the neutral atom in its ground state pass in one direction but not in the opposite direction for a range of incident velocities. A diode is a very basic control element in a circuit and many applications are possible for atomic trapping or quantum information processing.More specifically, our goal is to model an atom-field interaction so that the ground-state atom is transmitted when traveling, say, from left to right, and it is reflected if coming from the right. We shall describe effective three-level and two-level atom models, for simplicity in one dimension, to achieve the desired behavior. The one-dimensional description is accurate if the atom travels in waveguides formed by optical fields [3], or by electric or magnetic interactions due to charged or current-carrying structures [2]. It can be also a good approximation in free space for atomic packets which are broad in the laser direction, perpendicular to the incident atomic direction, as demonstrated for time-of-arrival measurements by fluorescence [4].In our models the atom is in an excited state after being transmitted and, in principle, excited atoms could cross the diode "backwards," i.e., from right to left. Nevertheless, an irreversible decay from the excited state to the ground state, will effectively block any backward motion.Let us denote by R ␤␣ l ͑v͒ ͓R ␤␣ r ͑v͔͒ the scattering amplitudes for incidence with velocity v Ͼ 0 from the left (right) in channel ␣ and reflection in channel ␤. Similarly, we denote by T ␤␣ l ͑v͒ ͓T ␤␣ r ͑v͔͒ the scattering amplitude for incidence in channel ␣ with velocity v Ͼ 0 from the left (right) and transmission in channel ␤ to the right (left). The potential will be such that ͉T 31 l ͑v͉͒ 2 Ϸ 1, ͉R 11 l ͑v͉͒ 2 Ϸ 0 and ͉T 31 r ͑v͉͒ 2 Ϸ 0, ͉R 11 r ͑v͉͒ 2 Ϸ 1. The basic idea is to combine two lasers that achieve stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) with a state-selective reflecting interaction for the ground state. The STIRAP method is well known [5] and consists of an adiabatic transfer of population between levels 1 and 3 by two partially overlapping (in time or space) laser beams (see Fig. 1). The pump laser couples the atomic levels 1 and 2 with Rabi frequency ⍀ P , and the Stokes laser couples the states 2 and 3 with Rabi frequency ⍀ S . We assume here that these ...

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“…The oscillation may however be suppressed when the atoms move into a region illuminated by a perpendicular laser beam [7]. For an idealized sharp laser profile in a one dimensional approximation (its validity and the three dimensional case are examined in [8]), the Hamiltonian becomes…”

Section: Rabi Oscillation Suppression For Moving Atomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical analog of Rabi oscillation suppression due to atomic motion

Muga

Navarro

2006

Phys. Rev. A

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The Rabi oscillations of a two-level atom illuminated by a laser on resonance with the atomic transition may be suppressed by the atomic motion through averaging or filtering mechanisms. The optical analogs of these velocity effects are described. The two atomic levels correspond in the optical analogy to orthogonal polarizations of light and the Rabi oscillations to polarization oscillations in a medium which is optically active, naturally or due to a magnetic field. In the later case, the two orthogonal polarizations could be selected by choosing the orientation of the magnetic field, and one of them be filtered out. It is argued that the time-dependent optical polarization oscillations or their suppression are observable with current technology.

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Quantum optical time-of-arrival model in three dimensions

Cited by 20 publications

References 25 publications

Times of arrival and gauge invariance

Times of arrival and gauge invariance

Atom diode: A laser device for a unidirectional transmission of ground-state atoms

Optical analog of Rabi oscillation suppression due to atomic motion

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