Coherent collisional spin dynamics in optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates coherent spin dynamics driven by collisions in optical lattices, enabling precise measurement of interaction strengths and potential creation of entangled atom pairs for quantum applications.

Contribution

It provides the first observation of collisionally driven coherent spin oscillations in optical lattices, linking oscillation frequencies to fundamental scattering lengths.

Findings

Observation of weakly damped Rabi oscillations between Zeeman states

Precise determination of spin-changing collisional coupling strengths

Potential for creating entangled atom pairs

Abstract

We report on the observation of coherent, purely collisionally driven spin dynamics of neutral atoms in an optical lattice. For high lattice depths, atom pairs confined to the same lattice site show weakly damped Rabi-type oscillations between two-particle Zeeman states of equal magnetization, induced by spin changing collisions. This paves the way towards the efficient creation of robust entangled atom pairs in an optical lattice. Moreover, measurement of the oscillation frequency allows for precise determination of the spin-changing collisional coupling strengths, which are directly related to fundamental scattering lengths describing interatomic collisions at ultracold temperatures.