Quantum simulation. Spectroscopic observation of SU(N)-symmetric interactions in Sr orbital magnetism

X Zhang; M Bishof; S L Bromley; C V Kraus; M S Safronova; P Zoller; A M Rey; J Ye

doi:10.1126/science.1254978

Quantum simulation. Spectroscopic observation of SU(N)-symmetric interactions in Sr orbital magnetism

Science. 2014 Sep 19;345(6203):1467-73. doi: 10.1126/science.1254978. Epub 2014 Aug 21.

Authors

X Zhang¹, M Bishof¹, S L Bromley¹, C V Kraus², M S Safronova³, P Zoller², A M Rey⁴, J Ye⁴

Affiliations

¹ JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
² Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Joint Quantum Institute, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
⁴ JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. arey@jilau1.colorado.edu ye@jila.colorado.edu.

PMID: 25147278
DOI: 10.1126/science.1254978

Abstract

SU(N) symmetry can emerge in a quantum system with N single-particle spin states when spin is decoupled from interparticle interactions. Taking advantage of the high measurement precision offered by an ultrastable laser, we report a spectroscopic observation of SU(N ≤ 10) symmetry in (87)Sr. By encoding the electronic orbital degree of freedom in two clock states while keeping the system open to as many as 10 nuclear spin sublevels, we probed the non-equilibrium two-orbital SU(N) magnetism via Ramsey spectroscopy of atoms confined in an array of two-dimensional optical traps; we studied the spin-orbital quantum dynamics and determined the relevant interaction parameters. This study lays the groundwork for using alkaline-earth atoms as testbeds for important orbital models.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.