Visualizing entanglement in atoms and molecules

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel visualization method using Wigner functions to display and analyze quantum entanglement in atoms and molecules, enhancing understanding of quantum correlations affecting their physical and chemical properties.

Contribution

The work develops a new phase-space visualization technique for quantum states of atoms and molecules, enabling the first depiction of complex spin and spatial entanglement.

Findings

Visualizations reveal quantum correlations between spin and spatial degrees of freedom.

Method makes quantum properties accessible to non-technical audiences.

Provides new insights into atomic physics and chemistry phenomena.

Abstract

In this work we show how constructing Wigner functions of heterogeneous quantum systems leads to new capability in the visualization of quantum states of atoms and molecules. This method allows us to display quantum correlations (entanglement) between spin and spatial degrees of freedom (spin-orbit coupling) and between spin degrees of freedom, as well as more complex combinations of spin and spatial entanglement for the first time. This is important as there is growing recognition that such properties affect the physical characteristics, and chemistry, of atoms and molecules. Our visualizations are sufficiently accessible that, with some preparation, those with a non-technical background can gain an appreciation of subtle quantum properties of atomic and other systems. By providing new insights and modelling capability, our phase-space representation will be of great utility in understanding aspects of atomic physics and chemistry not available with current techniques.