Gravitational caustics in an atom laser

Typically discussed in the context of optics, caustics are envelopes of classical trajectories (rays) where the density of states diverges, resulting in pronounced observable features such as bright points, curves, and extended networks of patterns. Here, we generate caustics in the matter waves of an atom laser, providing a striking experimental example of catastrophe theory applied to atom optics in an accelerated (gravitational) reference frame. We showcase caustics formed by individual attractive and repulsive potentials, and present an example of a network generated by multiple potentials. Exploiting internal atomic states, we demonstrate fluid-flow tracing as another tool of this flexible experimental platform. The effective gravity experienced by the atoms can be tuned with magnetic gradients, forming caustics analogous to those produced by gravitational lensing. From a more applied point of view, atom optics affords perspectives for metrology, atom interferometry, and nanofabrication. Caustics in this context may lead to quantum innovations as they are an inherently robust way of manipulating matter waves.

PT -symmetric classical mechanics

This paper reports the results of an ongoing in-depth analysis of the classical trajectories of the class of non-Hermitian PT -symmetric Hamiltonians H = p2 + x2 (ix) ε (ε ⩾ 0). A variety of phenomena, heretofore overlooked, have been discovered such as the existence of infinitely many separatrix trajectories, sequences of critical initial values associated with limiting classical orbits, regions of broken PT -symmetric classical trajectories, and a remarkable topological transition at ε = 2. This investigation is a work in progress and it is not complete; many features of complex trajectories are still under study.

Spin crossover of thiophosgene via multidimensional heavy-atom quantum tunneling

The spin-crossover reaction of thiophosgene has drawn broad attention from both experimenters and theoreticians as a prime example of radiationless intramolecular decay via intersystem crossing. Despite multiple attempts over 20 years, theoretical predictions have typically been orders of magnitude in error relative to the experimentally measured triplet lifetime. We address the T1 → S0 transition by the first application of semiclassical golden-rule instanton theory in conjunction with on-the-fly electronic-structure calculations based on multireference perturbation theory. Our first-principles approach provides excellent agreement with the experimental rates. This was only possible due to the fact that instanton theory goes beyond previous methods by locating the optimal tunneling pathway in full dimensionality and thus captures "corner cutting" effects. Since the reaction is situated in the Marcus inverted regime, the tunneling mechanism can be interpreted in terms of two classical trajectories, one traveling forwards and one backwards in imaginary time, which are connected by particle--antiparticle creation and annihilation events. The calculated mechanism indicates that the spin crossover is sped up by many orders of magnitude due to multidimensional quantum tunneling of the carbon atom even at room temperature.

The Influence of s-Wave Interactions on Focussing of Atoms

The focusing of a rubidium Bose–Einstein condensate via an optical lattice potential is numerically investigated. The results are compared with a classical trajectory model which underestimates the width of the focused beam. Via the inclusion of the effects of interactions into the classical trajectories model, we show that it is possible to obtain reliable estimates for the width of the focused beam when compared to numerical integration of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation. Finally, we investigate the optimal regimes for focusing and find that for a strongly interacting Bose–Einstein condensate focusing of order 20 nm may be possible.

Signatures of folded branches in the scanning gate microscopy of ballistic electronic cavities

We demonstrate the emergence of classical features in electronic quantum transport for the scanning gate microscopy response in a cavity defined by a quantum point contact and a micron-sized circular reflector. The branches in electronic flow characteristic of a quantum point contact opening on a two-dimensional electron gas with weak disorder are folded by the reflector, yielding a complex spatial pattern. Considering the deflection of classical trajectories by the scanning gate tip allows to establish simple relationships of the scanning pattern, which are in agreement with recent experimental findings.

Noether symmetries and quantum cosmology in extended teleparallel gravity

We apply the Noether Symmetry Approach to point-like teleparallel Lagrangians in view to derive minisuperspaces suitable for Quantum Cosmology. Adopting the Arnowitt–Deser–Misner formalism, we find out related Wave Functions of the Universe. Specifically, by means of appropriate changes of variables suggested by the existence of Noether symmetries, it is possible to obtain the cosmological Hamiltonians whose solutions are classical trajectories interpretable as observable universes.

de Sitter space as a Glauber-Sudarshan state

Glauber-Sudarshan states, sometimes simply referred to as Glauber states, or alternatively as coherent and squeezed-coherent states, are interesting states in the configuration spaces of any quantum field theories, that closely resemble classical trajectories in space-time. In this paper, we identify four-dimensional de Sitter space as a coherent state over a supersymmetric Minkowski vacuum. Although such an identification is not new, what is new however is the claim that this is realizable in full string theory, but only in conjunction with temporally varying degrees of freedom and quantum corrections resulting from them. Furthermore, fluctuations over the de Sitter space is governed by a generalized graviton (and flux)-added coherent state, also known as the Agarwal-Tara state. The realization of de Sitter space as a state, and not as a vacuum, resolves many issues associated with its entropy, zero-point energy and trans-Planckian censorship, amongst other things.