Atomtronics

Atomtronics is an emerging sub-field of ultracold atomic physics which encompasses a broad range of topics featuring guided atomic matter waves. The systems typically include components analogous to those found in electronic or optical systems, such as beam splitters and transistors. Applications range from studies of fundamental physics to the development of practical devices.

Etymology

Atomtronics is a contraction of "atom" and "electronics", in reference to the creation of atomic analogues of electronic components, such as transistors and diodes, and also electronic materials such as semiconductors.[1] The field itself has considerable overlap with atom optics and quantum simulation, and is not strictly limited to the development of electronic-like components.[2] [3]

Methodology

Three major elements are required for an atomtronic circuit. The first is a Bose-Einstein condensate, which is needed for its coherent and superfluid properties, although an ultracold Fermi gas may also be used for certain applications. The second is a tailored trapping potential, which can be generated optically, magnetically, or using a combination of both. The final element is a method to induce movement of atoms within the potential, which can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, a transistor-like atomtronic circuit may be realized by a ring-shaped trap divided into two by two moveable weak barriers, with the two separate parts of the ring acting as the drain and the source, and the barriers acting as the gate. As the barriers move, atoms flow from the source to the drain.[4]

Applications

The field of atomtronics is still very young. Any schemes realized thus far are proof-of-principle. Applications include:

Obstacles to the development of practical sensing devices are largely due to the technical challenges of creating Bose-Einstein condensates, as they require bulky lab-based setups not easily suitable for transportation, although creating portable experimental setups is an active area of research.

See also

References

  1. ↑ B. T. Seaman, M. Krämer, D. Z. Anderson, and M. J. Holland, "Atomtronics: Ultracold-atom analogs of electronic devices" – Physical Review A doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.75.023615
  2. ↑ L. Amico, A. Osterloh, and F.S. Cataliotti "Quantum Many Particle Systems in Ring-Shaped Optical Lattices" – Physical Review Letters doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.063201 ,
  3. ↑ R. Labouvie, B. Santra, S. Heun, S. Wimberger, and H. Ott "Negative Differential Conductivity in an Interacting Quantum Gas" — Physical Review Letters doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.050601
  4. ↑ F. Jendrzejewski, S. Eckel, N. Murray, C. Lanier, M. Edwards, C. J. Lobb, and G. K. Campbell, "Resistive Flow in a Weakly Interacting Bose-Einstein Condensate" – Physical Review Letters doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.045305

External links

Elizabeth Gibney (February 2014). "Atom circuits a step closer". Nature. Retrieved 2015-05-07. 

Andrew J. Daley (July 2015). "Towards an Atomtronic Diode". Physics. 


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