Engineering active motion in quantum matter

TL;DR

This paper presents a framework for creating active quantum matter by mimicking self-propulsion with moving external traps, revealing classical and quantum features of activity, including new quantum-specific behaviors in non-dissipative systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to engineer active quantum systems using external trapping potentials, bridging classical active dynamics with quantum phenomena.

Findings

Recovers classical active behavior like ballistic to diffusive transition

Identifies quantum-origin features in non-dissipative systems

Discovers new exponents in mean-square displacement at short times

Abstract

We introduce a framework for engineering active quantum matter that involves mimicking the role of self-propulsion through an external trapping potential that is moving along imposed trajectories traced by classical active dynamics. This approach in the presence of dissipation, not only recovers essential dynamical behavior of classical activity, including the ballistic to diffusive cross-over of its mean-square displacement, but also reveals additional features of activity that are of quantum origin. These quantum-active features are revealed in non-dissipative systems, and manifest as novel exponents of the mean-square displacement at short timescales.