Quantum dynamics of impurities with long-range impurity-bath interactions

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ludwig Mathey, since 12/2020
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422010195

This research project aims at developing novel theory tools for the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of quantum impurities in degenerate atomic quantum gases with long-range impurity-bath interactions. Two particular and experimental relevant impurity-bath systems will be considered: trapped ions in an ultracold gas; dipolar impurities in a dipolar Fermi sea. The strong anisotropic character of the impurity-bath interaction of the latter represents a property largely unexplored in impurity physics. To this end, quantum optical approaches like master equations and condensed-matter methods such as diagrammatic techniques will be combined in order to afford a new powerful machinery for open many-body quantum systems. Two main scientific questions will be addressed with such hybrid out-of-equilibrium description of quantum impurities: the short- and long-time dynamics of the impurity’s internal and motional degrees of freedom; bath-induced interactions between impurities for pairing and entanglement generation. While the proposed study is theoretical, close collaboration with experimentalists is foreseen. Hence, this project will provide a strong contribution to the development of quantum simulators for the investigation of the impurity problem in solid-state physics and to current cutting-edge experimental research.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Denmark
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Georg Morten Bruun
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Privatdozent Dr. Antonio Negretti, until 12/2020