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PhysRevA.100.042102.pdf (3.84 MB)

Visualizing spin degrees of freedom in atoms and molecules

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journal contribution
posted on 2019-10-04, 11:19 authored by Benjamin Davies, Russell Rundle, Vincent Dwyer, John Samson, Todd Tilma, Mark EverittMark Everitt
In this work we show how constructing Wigner functions of heterogeneous quantum systems leads to new capability in the visualization of quantum states of atoms and molecules. This method allows us to display quantum correlations (entanglement) between spin and spatial degrees of freedom (spin-orbit coupling) and between spin degrees of freedom, as well as more complex combinations of spin and spatial entanglement. This is important as there is growing recognition that such properties affect the physical characteristics, and chemistry, of atoms and molecules. Our visualizations are sufficiently accessible that, with some preparation, those with a nontechnical background can gain an appreciation of subtle quantum properties of atomic and other systems. By providing insights and modeling capability, our phase-space representation will be of great utility in understanding aspects of atomic physics and chemistry not available with current techniques.

Funding

EP/N509516/1

DTP 2016-2017 Loughborough University

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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JSPS KAKENHI (C) Grant No. JP17K05569

History

School

  • Science

Department

  • Physics

Published in

Physical Review A

Volume

100

Issue

4

Pages

1-9

Publisher

American Physical Society (APS)

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Rights holder

© the authors

Publisher statement

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article’s title, journal citation, and DOI.

Acceptance date

2019-04-30

Publication date

2019-10-01

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

2469-9926

eISSN

2469-9934

Language

  • en

Article number

042102

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