USTC researchers created a long-lived Schrödinger-cat state, boosting quantum metrology and precision measurements. Their findings open new possibilities for quantum computing and fundamental physics.
A research team led by Prof. Zhengtian Lu and Researcher Tian Xia from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has successfully created a quantum state with a lifetime on the scale of minutes using optically trapped cold atoms. This breakthrough significantly improves the sensitivity of quantum metrology measurements. Their findings were published in Nature Photonics.
In quantum metrology, particle spin serves as a powerful tool for measuring magnetic fields, inertia, and various physical phenomena. It also has the potential to uncover new physics beyond the Standard Model. A high-spin Schrödinger-cat state, a superposition of two maximally opposed spin states, offers unique advantages for precision spin measurements.
The high spin quantum number enhances the precession frequency signal, improving measurement resolution. Additionally, cat states exhibit resistance to certain environmental disturbances, reducing measurement noise. However, a key challenge in experimental applications is maintaining long coherence times, which are crucial for the practical use of cat states in precision measurements.
Overcoming the Challenge of Coherence Time
To address this challenge, the research team first trapped 173Yb atoms with a spin of 5/2 in an optical lattice. By controlling laser pulses to induce nonlinear light shifts on the ground states of the atoms, they successfully prepare a superposition state consisting of two spin projections, +5/2 and -5/2. This state, namely the Schrödinger-cat state, exhibits enhanced magnetic field sensitivity and experiences identical light shifts in the optical lattice, residing within a decoherence-free subspace. Therefore, it is immune to intensity noise and spatial variations of the lattice.
Experimental results indicated that the coherence time of this cat state exceeded 20 minutes. Utilizing Ramsey interferometry, the researchers confirmed that the phase measurement sensitivity approached the Heisenberg limit.
This long-lived Schrödinger-cat state paves a new way for atomic magnetometry, quantum computations, and the exploration of new physics beyond the Standard Model.
Reference: “Minute-scale Schrödinger-cat state of spin-5/2 atoms” by Y. A. Yang, W.-T. Luo, J.-L. Zhang, S.-Z. Wang, Chang-Ling Zou, T. Xia and Z.-T. Lu, 1 November 2024, Nature Photonics.
DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01555-3
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23 Comments
The analogy of quantum with cats is a shame in today’s physics.
Two sets of cobalt-60 can form mirror images of each other when rotated in reverse, which is even more notorious.
The anti-vortex form promoted by some so-called peer-review academic publications is even more unbelievable. What is the synchronous effect of vortex and antivortex? (https://pic2.zhimg.com/v2-4127b0b58fe8b88feb27c189fb705029_1440w.jpg?source=172ae18b).
Was reading about vortex from electron.
Freezing atoms reduces motion. But full motion of two opposite vortexes doesn’t sound like it’s possible for them to cohabit same region of space
Note, the better the measurements, the more quantum mirrors classical physics “cyclone” effect from rotating electron
VERY GOOD! Please do not overlook the self-organization and synchronization effects of spin vortices.
For decades, so-called academic publications, including Physical Review Letters, Nature, Science, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have been spreading and promoting the aforementioned pseudoscience that two sets of cobalt-60 can form mirror images of each other when rotated in reverse without remorse. Do these so-called peer-reviewed publications really not know what is dirty and ugly?
Maybe, but it’s good to remember the past too so the term ‘cat state’ is fine with me.
No seais imbecil.
Es un salto enorme en la Teleportacion
It’s a joyful element mixing with complexity that expands thought.
A.I picture!? Ewww!
So I will bet any amount of money that if I put a cat in a box and nothing takes it out, it will be there when I open the box later. Any amount.
The rigor of science is worthless for some so-called academic publications, including Physical Review Letters, Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, etc. They stubbornly persist and declare everywhere:
1. They insist on using a cat analogy to quantum.
2. Two sets of cobalt-60 can form mirror images of each other when rotated in reverse.
3. In research, using an anti-vortex with extremely complex space-time structure to deceive the public (https://pic2.zhimg.com/v2-4127b0b58fe8b88feb27c189fb705029_1440w.jpg?source=172ae18b).
4. They distort mathematics, mislead scientific research, and search everywhere for so-called Antimatter, God particles, etc.
I don’t know Jack about anyone’s science. All I have to say is I have been meditating on the creation of the universe for twenty four years while in prison and my mind connected. What all the scientists and people keep calling gravity is nothing more than the fundamental natural of the original magnetic field which creates all magic fields within it, and they are all connected in some way. It’s very simple concept with a long
But will it be dead or alive?
And if you really want to be pedantic about the Schrödinger experiment you’d also need a radiometer and lethal gas linked to it.
Apparently both – for about 20 minutes…
What if the cat leaves the box by itself? Does it have to be a cat, can it be a ghetto chicken? What about wave spin theory instead of particle spin theory? I think Shrodingers ghetto chicken will get dizzy when the wave spin theory experiments start! LOL
But in fact, when human is quantum himself, how can quantum resolve quantum itself? (*the mystery of)
The rigor of science is worthless for some so-called academic publications, including Physical Review Letters, Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, etc. They stubbornly persist and declare everywhere:
1. They insist on using a cat analogy to quantum.
2. Two sets of cobalt-60 can form mirror images of each other when rotated in reverse.
3. In research, using an anti-vortex with extremely complex space-time structure to deceive the public (https://pic2.zhimg.com/v2-4127b0b58fe8b88feb27c189fb705029_1440w.jpg?source=172ae18b).
4. They distort mathematics, mislead scientific research, and search everywhere for so-called Antimatter, God particles, etc.
The average minds believe everything as true.
Absolutely
Y a ti te engana Dios , por cretino.😛Andrew in
“When this exist, that arises;
With the cessation of this, that ceases .”
There’s particle spin theory, but what about wave spin theory?! Also, what if the cat leaves the box by itself? Does it have to be a cat? Can I use a ghetto chicken instead? It might get dizzy if I experiment with wave spin theory & Shrodingers ghetto chicken theory! LOL
See, science can be funny too!