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Bose-Einstein Condensates and their Possible Applications in Quantum Computing and Optical Processing

Shane Hodgson, Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences and Honors CollegeInterim Faculty Mentor: Susan Eve, Department of Applied Gerontology, College of Public Affairs and

Community Service and Honors College

What Does a Laser-Magnetic Bose-Einstein Condensate Trap Look Like?

An example of the complex equipment used to cool and generate Bose-Einstein condensates.

Velocity Distributions throughout the Formation of Bose-Einstein Condensates

Abstract

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) could have a revolutionary impact in the fields of quantum logic and quantum computing, as well as the storage of optical information in a highly compressed state. BECs may possibly verify claims of quantum entanglement and engender profound implications related to the ability of humans to control atoms individually and usefully. If the power of Bose-Einstein condensates can be harnessed, the benefits would be wondrous. Quantum computing would give us the means to explore many statistical and probabilistic relationships, especially in the rapidly-expanding field of thermodynamics. To investigate, we must create a BEC using one of two techniques: magnetic confinement, or carbon dioxide lasers. From here, we must use lasers to trap light within the BEC and control the beam absolutely and microscopically. Absolute control of a BEC has not yet been achieved in the 13 years since their creation in 1995.

What Is Currently Known about Bose-Einstein Condensates?

Complex laser-magnetic interaction systems are required to significantly cool a relatively large number of atoms to almost absolute zero. When rubidium atoms are used, they cannot be warmer than about 170 billionths of a degree above absolute zero. When cooled to almost absolute zero, a significant majority of the atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate fall to the lowest possible quantum state and it becomes physically impossible to identify particular atoms because they all have exactly same properties. For this reason, a Bose-Einstein condensate is sometimes referred to as a single “super-atom” because it behaves as a whole and its parts are indistinguishable. A pulse of light in a vacuum becomes scaled by a factor of approximately six orders of magnitude, thereby compressing all of the information contained within it into a smaller space. From this, it immediately follows that applications in optical processing should be sought due to the efficiency that could be gained from such an endeavor. Inside of a Bose-Einstein condensate, light has been made to travel only 17 meters per second, which is around 5.66 × 10-6 times slower than its regular speed of travel in a vacuum at 3.00 × 108 meters per second.

References

Georgia Tech Research News. “Stopping Atoms (Extremely) Cold: Researchers Develop First All-Optical Technique to Produce Bose-Einstein Condensates.” Research News and Publications Office. http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/BOSE.html (accessed February 13, 2008).

Thomson Gale. “Bose-Einstein Condensation” World of Physics 2005-2006. http://www.bookrags.com/research/bose-einstein-condensation-wop/ (accessed February 14, 2008).

Zachary Dutton, Naomi S. Ginsberg, Christopher Slowe, Lene Vestergaard Hau. “The art of taming light: ultra-slow and stopped light.” Europhysics News (2004) Vol. 35 No. 2. http://www.europhysicsnews.com/full/26/article1/article1.html (accessed February 13, 2008).

Acknowledgments: I would like to thank the following administrators for this opportunity: Dr. Wendy Wilkins, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs; Dr. Warren Burggren, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; and Dr. Gloria Cox, Dean, Honors College.

The Observation of Vortices within Bose-Einstein Condensates

The Observation of Beam Coherence in an Atom Laser

The above represents a velocity distribution graph of the process surrounding the creation of a Bose-Einstein condensate. The left is before the condensate forms, the middle is when it becomes apparent that a condensate is forming, and the right is when the system is almost a pure condensate.

Vortices of “fluid” naturally form within a Bose-Einstein condensate. The above are pictures of these vortices within the Bose-Einstein condensates themselves. These vortices rival the effects that have been observed inside neutron stars and pulsars.

The above is a pulsed atom laser that produces a coherent beam that behaves similarly to classical mechanic waves. Atom lasers are of paramount dependence in atom holography.