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Relaxation of an isolated dipolar-interacting Rydberg quantum spin system

How do isolated quantum systems approach an equilibrium state? We experimentally and theoretically address this question for a prototypical spin system formed by ultracold atoms prepared in two Rydberg states with different orbital angular momenta. By coupling these states with a resonant microwave...

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Main Authors: Piñeiro Orioli, Asier (Author) , Signoles, Adrien (Author) , Wildhagen, H (Author) , Günter, Georg (Author) , Berges, Jürgen (Author) , Whitlock, Shannon (Author) , Weidemüller, Matthias (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 5 February 2018
In: Physical review letters
Year: 2018, Volume: 120, Issue: 6
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.063601
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.063601
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.063601
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Author Notes:A. Piñeiro Orioli, A. Signoles, H. Wildhagen, G. Günter, J. Berges, S. Whitlock, and M. Weidemüller
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Summary:How do isolated quantum systems approach an equilibrium state? We experimentally and theoretically address this question for a prototypical spin system formed by ultracold atoms prepared in two Rydberg states with different orbital angular momenta. By coupling these states with a resonant microwave driving, we realize a dipolar XY spin-1/2 model in an external field. Starting from a spin-polarized state, we suddenly switch on the external field and monitor the subsequent many-body dynamics. Our key observation is density dependent relaxation of the total magnetization much faster than typical decoherence rates. To determine the processes governing this relaxation, we employ different theoretical approaches that treat quantum effects on initial conditions and dynamical laws separately. This allows us to identify an intrinsically quantum component to the relaxation attributed to primordial quantum fluctuations.
Item Description:Gesehen am 24.03.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.063601

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