Dynamical control of a quantum Kapitza pendulum in a spin-1 BEC
Abstract
We demonstrate dynamic stabilization of an unstable strongly interacting quantum many-body system by periodic manipulation of the phase of the collective states. The experiment employs a spin-1 atomic Bose condensate that has spin dynamics analogous to a non-rigid pendulum in the mean-field limit. The condensate spin is initialized to an unstable (hyperbolic) fixed point of the phase space, where subsequent free evolution gives rise to spin-nematic squeezing and quantum spin mixing. To stabilize the system, periodic microwave pulses are applied that manipulate the spin-nematic fluctuations and limit their growth. The range of pulse periods and phase shifts with which the condensate can be stabilized is measured and compares well with a linear stability analysis of the problem.
C.D. Hamley, et al., ``Spin-Nematic Squeezed Vacuum in a Quantum Gas,'' Nature Physics 8, 305-308 (2012).- Publication:
-
APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013APS..DMP.N3005H