Solving the quantum many-body problem via correlations measured with a momentum microscope

In quantum many-body theory, all physical observables are described in terms of correlation functions between particle creation/annihilation operators. Measurement of such correlation functions can therefore be regarded as an operational solution to the quantum many-body problem. Here we demonstrate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2017-06
Main Authors: Hodgman, Sean S, Khakimov, Roman I, Lewis-Swan, Robert J, Truscott, Andrew G, Kheruntsyan, Karen V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bose-Einstein condensates
Correlation analysis
Helium
Helium atoms
Many body interactions
Momentum
Unconventional superconductivity
Wave scattering
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Summary:In quantum many-body theory, all physical observables are described in terms of correlation functions between particle creation/annihilation operators. Measurement of such correlation functions can therefore be regarded as an operational solution to the quantum many-body problem. Here we demonstrate this paradigm by measuring multi-particle momentum correlations up to third order between ultracold helium atoms in an s-wave scattering halo of colliding Bose-Einstein condensates, using a quantum many-body momentum microscope. Our measurements allow us to extract a key building block of all higher-order correlations in this system|the pairing field amplitude. In addition, we demonstrate a record violation of the classical Cauchy-Schwarz inequality for correlated atom pairs and triples. Measuring multi-particle momentum correlations could provide new insights into effects such as unconventional superconductivity and many-body localisation.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1702.03617