Towards experimental quantum-field tomography with ultracold atoms

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Condensed matter theory
• Atomic and optical physics

Background:

• Experimental realization of large-scale many-body systems is advancing rapidly.
• Traditional state identification methods like full tomography are becoming inefficient for continuous systems.
• New technologies are needed for state identification in emerging quantum platforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first steps towards efficient experimental quantum-field tomography.
• To develop a new state identification technique for continuous quantum many-body systems.
• To demonstrate the applicability of the developed method in a realistic experimental scenario.

Main Methods:

• The procedure is based on continuous analogues of matrix-product states.
• These states naturally incorporate locality, suitable for locally interacting quantum fields.
• Experimental demonstration involved quenching a one-dimensional Bose gas by a transversal split.

Main Results:

• A partial quantum-field reconstruction of far-from-equilibrium states was achieved.
• The method demonstrated its capability in analyzing dynamic quantum systems.
• The technique provides a more efficient approach to state identification compared to full tomography.

Conclusions:

• The developed quantum-field tomography is a promising technique for studying continuous quantum many-body systems.
• This method is expected to be crucial for future research in quantum field theory and condensed matter.
• The approach offers a pathway to efficiently characterize complex quantum states in experimental settings.