Manipulating quantum material by engineering non-classical states of light
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Interactions (or forces) between particles are mediated by the so-called force carriers, like photons mediating electromagnetic interactions between charges. New theoretical research predicts that when force carriers are prepared in a non-classical state (i.e. a configuration which is not allowed by classical mechanics), the two particles interact in a fundamentally new way.
Published in the scientific journal PRX Quantum, 海角社区 physicist Dr. Ahana Chakraborty with her collaborators led the development of a novel nonequilibrium field-theoretical approach for computing the vertex function and find that, in addition to the energy and momentum structure of the scattering, a further structure emerges, which reflects the Hilbert-space distribution of the mediator鈥檚 quantum state. This emergent structure becomes nontrivial for non-Gaussian quantum states of the mediator and can dramatically affect two-body scattering.
This breakthrough research opens new avenues for controlling properties of quantum materials, especially collective phenomena by engineering the quantum state of the force carriers.
鈥淎s a first application, we show that by preparing cavity photons in pure Fock states one can enhance pair correlations, and even modify the criticality of the photon-mediated superconducting phase transition,鈥� said Dr. Chakraborty.
In the publication 鈥樷��, the lead author Dr. Chakraborty, in collaboration with other researchers, show that the quantum nature of the interaction-mediating photons can significantly alter two-body scattering and even shift the critical behavior of superconducting phase transitions.
As future research emerges, the authors note that the possibility for experimental investigation also exists at a less fundamental level, where the role of photons can be played by collective degrees of freedom like phonons, or by excitons (polaritons). While quantum-state-engineering is currently more developed for photons than for the rest of the candidate mediators like phonons, new promising platforms are emerging.
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