Atomtronics is an emerging field concerning the quantum technology of matter-wave circuits which coherently guide propagating ultra-cold atoms.[1][2] The systems typically include components analogous to those found in electronics, quantum electronics or optical systems; such as beam splitters, transistors, and atomic counterparts of Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs). Applications range from studies of fundamental physics to the development of practical devices.
Etymology
editAtomtronics is a portmanteau of "atom" and "electronics", in reference to the creation of atomic analogues of electronic components, such as transistors and diodes, and also electronic materials such as semiconductors.[3] The field itself has considerable overlap with atom optics and quantum simulation, and is not strictly limited to the development of electronic-like components.[4][5]
Methodology
editThree major elements are required for an atomtronic circuit. The first is a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is needed for its coherent and superfluid properties, although an ultracold Fermi gas may also be used for certain applications. The second is a tailored trapping potential, which can be generated optically, magnetically, or using a combination of both. The final element is a method to induce the movement of atoms within the potential, which can be achieved in several ways. For example, a transistor-like atomtronic circuit may be realized by a ring-shaped trap divided into two by two moveable weak barriers, with the two separate parts of the ring acting as the drain and the source and the barriers acting as the gate. As the barriers move, atoms flow from the source to the drain.[6] It is now possible to coherently guide matterwaves over distances of up to 40 cm in ring-shaped atomtronic matterwave guides.[7]
Applications
editThe field of atomtronics is still very nascent and any schemes realized thus far are proof-of-principle. Applications include:
- gravimetry
- rotational sensing via the Sagnac effect
- quantum computing
Obstacles to the development of practical sensing devices are largely due to the technical challenges of creating Bose-Einstein condensates. They require bulky lab-based setups not easily suitable for transportation. However, creating portable experimental setups is an active area of research.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Amico, L.; Boshier, M.; Birkl, G.; Minguzzi, A.; Miniatura, C.; Kwek, L.-C.; Aghamalyan, D.; Ahufinger, V.; Anderson, D.; Andrei, N.; Arnold, A. S.; Baker, M.; Bell, T. A.; Bland, T.; Brantut, J. P. (2021). "Roadmap on Atomtronics: State of the art and perspective". AVS Quantum Science. 3 (3): 039201. arXiv:2008.04439. Bibcode:2021AVSQS...3c9201A. doi:10.1116/5.0026178. ISSN 2639-0213. S2CID 235417597.
- ^ Amico, Luigi; Anderson, Dana; Boshier, Malcolm; Brantut, Jean-Philippe; Kwek, Leong-Chuan; Minguzzi, Anna; von Klitzing, Wolf (2022-06-14). "Colloquium : Atomtronic circuits: From many-body physics to quantum technologies". Reviews of Modern Physics. 94 (4): 041001. arXiv:2107.08561. doi:10.1103/RevModPhys.94.041001.
- ^ Seaman, B. T.; Krämer, M.; Anderson, D. Z.; Holland, M. J. (2007-02-20). "Atomtronics: Ultracold-atom analogs of electronic devices". Physical Review A. 75 (2). American Physical Society (APS): 023615. arXiv:cond-mat/0606625. Bibcode:2007PhRvA..75b3615S. doi:10.1103/physreva.75.023615. ISSN 1050-2947. S2CID 51313032.
- ^ Amico, Luigi; Osterloh, Andreas; Cataliotti, Francesco (2005-08-01). "Quantum Many Particle Systems in Ring-Shaped Optical Lattices". Physical Review Letters. 95 (6): 063201. arXiv:cond-mat/0501648. Bibcode:2005PhRvL..95f3201A. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.95.063201. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 16090948. S2CID 16405096.
- ^ Labouvie, Ralf; Santra, Bodhaditya; Heun, Simon; Wimberger, Sandro; Ott, Herwig (2015-07-27). "Negative Differential Conductivity in an Interacting Quantum Gas". Physical Review Letters. 115 (5): 050601. arXiv:1411.5632. Bibcode:2015PhRvL.115e0601L. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.115.050601. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 26274404. S2CID 5917918.
- ^ Jendrzejewski, F.; Eckel, S.; Murray, N.; Lanier, C.; Edwards, M.; Lobb, C. J.; Campbell, G. K. (2014-07-25). "Resistive Flow in a Weakly Interacting Bose-Einstein Condensate". Physical Review Letters. 113 (4). American Physical Society (APS): 045305. arXiv:1402.3335. Bibcode:2014PhRvL.113d5305J. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.113.045305. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 25105631. S2CID 33303312.
- ^ Pandey, Saurabh; Mas, Hector; Drougakis, Giannis; Thekkeppatt, Premjith; Bolpasi, Vasiliki; Vasilakis, Georgios; Poulios, Konstantinos; von Klitzing, Wolf (2019). "Hypersonic Bose–Einstein condensates in accelerator rings". Nature. 570 (7760). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 205–209. arXiv:1907.08521. Bibcode:2019Natur.570..205P. doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1273-5. ISSN 0028-0836. PMID 31168098. S2CID 174809749.
External links
edit- Elizabeth Gibney (February 2014). "Atom circuits a step closer". Nature. doi:10.1038/nature.2014.14709. S2CID 100778947. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
- Andrew J. Daley (July 2015). "Towards an Atomtronic Diode". Physics. 8: 72. Bibcode:2015PhyOJ...8...72D. doi:10.1103/Physics.8.72.