REVIEW. Quantum optics with ultracold quantum gases: towards the full quantum regime of the light-matter interaction

TL;DR

This paper reviews how quantum optics with ultracold quantum gases enables the exploration of quantum light-matter interactions, including quantum nondemolition measurements, entanglement, and dynamic potentials, advancing towards the full quantum regime.

Contribution

It highlights the integration of quantum optics principles into ultracold gases, emphasizing new methods for state preparation, measurement, and self-consistent light-matter dynamics.

Findings

Quantum nondemolition probing of ultracold gases.

Preparation of atomic states via optical measurement.

Self-consistent light-matter interaction in cavity QED.

Abstract

Although the study of ultracold quantum gases trapped by light is a prominent direction of modern research, the quantum properties of light were widely neglected in this field. Quantum optics with quantum gases closes this gap and addresses phenomena, where the quantum statistical nature of both light and ultracold matter play equally important roles. First, light can serve as a quantum nondemolition (QND) probe of the quantum dynamics of various ultracold particles from ultracold atomic and molecular gases to nanoparticles and nanomechanical systems. Second, due to dynamic light-matter entanglement, projective measurement-based preparation of the many-body states is possible, where the class of emerging atomic states can be designed via optical geometry. Light scattering constitutes such a quantum measurement with controllable measurement back-action. As in cavity-based spin squeezing, atom number squeezed and Schroedinger cat states can be prepared. Third, trapping atoms inside an optical cavity one creates optical potentials and forces, which are not prescribed but quantized and dynamical variables themselves. Ultimately, cavity QED with quantum gases requires a self-consistent solution for light and particles, which enriches the picture of quantum many-body states of atoms trapped in quantum potentials. This will allow quantum simulations of phenomena related to the physics of phonons, polarons, polaritons and other quantum quasiparticles.