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Interaction-induced decay of a heteronuclear two-atom system

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Xu

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jiaheng Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Min Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaodong He

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yong Zeng

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kunpeng Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    School of Physics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jin Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • D. J. Papoular

    (Università di Trento)

  • G. V. Shlyapnikov

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modèles Statistiques, Université Paris Sud, CNRS
    Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, University of Amsterdam
    Russian Quantum Center)

  • Mingsheng Zhan

    (State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Center for Cold Atom Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Two-atom systems in small traps are of fundamental interest for understanding the role of interactions in degenerate cold gases and for the creation of quantum gates in quantum information processing with single-atom traps. One of the key quantities is the inelastic relaxation (decay) time when one of the atoms or both are in a higher hyperfine state. Here we measure this quantity in a heteronuclear system of 87Rb and 85Rb in a micro optical trap and demonstrate experimentally and theoretically the presence of both fast and slow relaxation processes, depending on the choice of the initial hyperfine states. This experimental method allows us to single out a particular relaxation process thus provides an extremely clean platform for collisional physics studies. Our results have also implications for engineering of quantum states via controlled collisions and creation of two-qubit quantum gates.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Xu & Jiaheng Yang & Min Liu & Xiaodong He & Yong Zeng & Kunpeng Wang & Jin Wang & D. J. Papoular & G. V. Shlyapnikov & Mingsheng Zhan, 2015. "Interaction-induced decay of a heteronuclear two-atom system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms8803
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8803
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