Continuous measurement feedback control of a Bose-Einstein condensate using phase contrast imaging

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for continuous feedback control of a Bose-Einstein condensate using phase contrast imaging, showing how feedback can reduce heating and steer the system towards its ground state.

Contribution

It introduces a stochastic master equation approach for feedback control of BECs under continuous non-destructive imaging, with numerical analysis of steady states.

Findings

Feedback can mitigate light scattering heating in BECs.

Steady state energy depends on measurement and feedback parameters.

Weak measurement combined with feedback can cool the BEC towards the ground state.

Abstract

We consider the theory of feedback control of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) confined in a harmonic trap under a continuous measurement constructed via non-destructive imaging. A filtering theory approach is used to derive a stochastic master equation (SME) for the system from a general Hamiltonian based upon system-bath coupling. Numerical solutions for this SME in the limit of a single atom show that the final steady state energy is dependent upon the measurement strength, the ratio of photon kinetic energy to atomic kinetic energy, and the feedback strength. Simulations indicate that for a weak measurement strength, feedback can be used to overcome heating introduced by the scattering of light, thereby allowing the atom to be driven towards the ground state.