Landau - Zener interferometry in multilevel systems

Seminar
QUEST Center event
Yes
Speaker
Mikhail N. Kiselev, International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
Date
19/04/2017 - 16:00 - 15:00Add to Calendar 2017-04-19 15:00:00 2017-04-19 16:00:00 Landau - Zener interferometry in multilevel systems   We propose a universal approach to Landau-Zener (LZ) problem in a multilevel system. The problem is formulated in terms of generators of SU(N) algebra and maps the Hamiltonian onto the effective anisotropic pseudospin (N-1)/2 model. The vector Bloch equation for the density matrix describing the temporal evolution of the multilevel crossing problem is derived and solved analytically for two generic cases: i) three-level crossing problem representing a minimal model for a LZ interferometer and ii) four-level crossing problem corresponding to a minimal model of coupled interferometers. It is shown that the analytic solution of the Bloch equation is in excellent quantitative agreement with the numerical solution of the Schroedinger equation for the 3- and 4- level crossing problems. The solution demonstrates oscillation patterns which radically differ from the standard patterns for the two-level Landau- Zener problem: "beats",  when the dwell time in the interferometer is smaller compared to a  tunnel time and "steps" in the opposite limit. The possibilities of the experimental realization of LZ interferometers in the system of in two-well traps in optical lattices for ultra-cold gases are discussed.  Nano - 9th Floor Seminar room Department of Physics physics.dept@mail.biu.ac.il Asia/Jerusalem public
Place
Nano - 9th Floor Seminar room
Abstract

 

We propose a universal approach to Landau-Zener (LZ) problem in a multilevel system. The problem is formulated in terms of generators of
SU(N) algebra and maps the Hamiltonian onto the effective anisotropic pseudospin (N-1)/2 model. The vector Bloch equation for the density matrix describing the temporal evolution of the multilevel crossing problem is derived and solved analytically for two generic cases: i) three-level crossing problem representing a minimal model for a LZ interferometer and ii) four-level crossing problem corresponding to a minimal model of coupled interferometers. It is shown that the analytic solution of the Bloch equation is in excellent quantitative agreement with the numerical solution of the Schroedinger equation for the 3- and 4- level crossing problems. The solution demonstrates oscillation patterns which radically differ from the standard patterns for the two-level Landau- Zener problem: "beats",  when the dwell time in the interferometer is smaller compared to a  tunnel time and "steps" in the opposite limit. The possibilities of the experimental realization of LZ interferometers in the system of in two-well traps in optical lattices for ultra-cold gases are discussed. 

Last Updated Date : 06/04/2017