Two-mode Approximation Research Articles

Multi-pulse Orbits and Homoclinic Trees in a Non-autonomous Resonant Hamiltonian System

In this study, we develop the energy-phase method to deal with the high-dimensional non-autonomous nonlinear dynamical systems. Our generalized energy-phase method applies to integrable, two-degree-of freedom non-autonomous resonant Hamiltonian systems. As an example, we investigate the multi-pulse orbits and homoclinic trees for a parametrically excited, simply supported rectangular thin plate of two-mode approximation. In both the Hamiltonian and dissipative case we find homoclinic trees, which describe the repeated bifurcations of multi-pulse solutions, and we present visualizations of these complicated structures.

Quantum speed limit and optimal control of many-boson dynamics

We extend the concept of quantum speed limit -- the minimal time needed to perform a driven evolution -- to complex interacting many-body systems. We investigate a prototypical many-body system, a bosonic Josephson junction, at increasing levels of complexity: (a) within the two-mode approximation {corresponding to} a nonlinear two-level system, (b) at the mean-field level by solving the nonlinear Gross-Pitaevskii equation in a double well potential, and (c) at an exact many-body level by solving the time-dependent many-body Schr\"odinger equation. We propose a control protocol to transfer atoms from the ground state of a well to the ground state of the neighbouring well. Furthermore, we show that the detrimental effects of the inter-particle repulsion can be eliminated by means of a compensating control pulse, yielding, quite surprisingly, an enhancement of the transfer speed because of the particle interaction -- in contrast to the self-trapping scenario. Finally, we perform numerical optimisations of both the nonlinear and the (exact) many-body quantum dynamics in order to further enhance the transfer efficiency close to the quantum speed limit.

Bound states in the continuum in open acoustic resonators

We consider bound states in the continuum (BSCs) or embedded trapped modes in two- and three-dimensional acoustic axisymmetric duct–cavity structures. We demonstrate numerically that, under variation of the length of the cavity, multiple BSCs occur due to the Friedrich–Wintgen two-mode full destructive interference mechanism. The BSCs are detected by tracing the resonant widths to the points of the collapse of Fano resonances where one of the two resonant modes acquires infinite life-time. It is shown that the approach of the acoustic coupled mode theory cast in the truncated form of a two-mode approximation allows us to analytically predict the BSC frequencies and shape functions to a good accuracy in both two and three dimensions.

The effect of atomic collisions on the quantum phase transition of a Bose–Einstein condensate inside an optical cavity

In this paper, we investigate the effect of atomic collisions on the phase transition form the normal to the superradiant phase in a one-dimensional Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped inside an optical cavity. Specifically, we show that driving the atoms from the side of the cavity leads to the excitation of modes in the edges of the first Brillouin zone of every energy band, which results in the two-mode approximation of the BEC matter field in the limit of weak coupling regime. The nonlinear effect of atom–atom interaction shifts the threshold of the quantum phase transition of the BEC and also affect the power low behavior of quantum fluctuations in the total particle number. Besides, we show the possibility of controlling the quantum phase transition of the system through the s-wave scattering frequency when the strength of the transverse pumping has been fixed.

Spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates in a double well

We study the quantum dynamics of a spin-orbit (SO) coupled Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a double-well potential inspired by the experimental protocol recently developed by NIST group. We focus on the regime where the number of atoms is very large and perform a two-mode approximation. An analytical solution of the two-site Bose-Hubbard-like Hamiltonian is found for several limiting cases, which range from a strong Raman coupling to a strong Josephson coupling, ending with the complete model in the presence of weak nonlinear interactions. Depending on the particular limit, different approaches are chosen: a mapping onto an SU(2) spin problem together with a Holstein-Primakoff transformation in the first two cases and a rotating wave approximation (RWA) when dealing with the complete model. The quantum evolution of the number difference of bosons with equal or different spin between the two wells is investigated in a wide range of parameters; finally the corresponding total atomic current and the spin current are computed. We show a spin Josephson effect which could be detected in experiments and employed to build up realistic devices.

Comparison and unification of non-Hermitian and Lindblad approaches with applications to open quantum optical systems

We compare two approaches to open quantum systems, namely, the non-Hermitian dynamics and the Lindblad master equation. In order to deal with more general dissipative phenomena, we propose the unified master equation that combines the characteristics of both of these approaches. This allows us to assess the differences between them as well as to clarify which observed features come from the Lindblad or the non-Hermitian part, when it comes to experiment. Using a generic two-mode single-atom laser system as a practical example, we analytically solve the dynamics of the normalized density matrix operator. We study the two-level model in a number of cases (depending on parameters and types of dynamics), compute different observables and study their physical properties. It turns out that one can not only able to describe the different types of damping in dissipative quantum optical systems but also mimic the undamped anharmonic oscillatory phenomena which happen in quantum systems with more than two levels (while staying within the framework of the analytically simple two-mode approximation).

Theoretical modeling and nonlinear analysis of piezoelectric energy harvesting from vortex-induced vibrations

A nonlinear distributed-parameter model for harvesting energy from vortex-induced vibrations of a piezoelectric cantilever beam with a circular cylinder attached to its end is developed and validated with experimental results. A reduced-order model is derived by using the Euler–Lagrange principle and implementing the Galerkin discretization. A van der Pol wake oscillator is used to model the vortex-induced lift force. A nonlinear analysis is performed to determine the required number of modes in the Galerkin discretization. It is demonstrated that a one- or two-mode approximation in the Galerkin approach is not sufficient to evaluate the performance of the harvester. Based on a five-mode approximation in the Galerkin approach, an identification for the van der Pol wake oscillator coefficients is performed. To design efficient piezoaeroelastic energy harvesters that can generate energy at low freestream velocities, further analysis is performed to investigate the effects of the cylinder’s tip mass, length of the piezoelectric sheet, and electrical load resistance on the synchronization region and performance of the harvester. The results show that depending on the operating freestream velocity, the cylinder’s tip mass, length of the piezoelectric sheet, and electrical load resistance can be optimized to design enhanced piezoaeroelastic energy harvesters from vortex-induced vibrations.

Josephson physics of spin-orbit-coupled elongated Bose-Einstein condensates

We consider an ultracold bosonic binary mixture confined in a one-dimensional double-well trap. The two bosonic components are assumed to be two hyperfine internal states of the same atom. We suppose that these two components are spin-orbit coupled between each other. We employ the two-mode approximation starting from two coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations and derive a system of ordinary differential equations governing the temporal evolution of the inter-well population imbalance of each component and that between the two bosonic species. We study the Josephson oscillations of these spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensates by analyzing the interplay between the interatomic interactions and the spin-orbit coupling and the self-trapped dynamics of the inter-species imbalance. We show that the dynamics of this latter variable is crucially determined by the relationship between the spin-orbit coupling, the tunneling energy, and the interactions.

Cubic–quintic long-range interactions with double well potentials

In the present work, we examine the combined effects of cubic and quintic terms of the long-range type in the dynamics of a double well potential. Employing a two-mode approximation, we systematically develop two cubic–quintic ordinary differential equations and assess the contributions of the long-range interactions in each of the relevant prefactors, gauging how to simplify the ensuing dynamical system. Finally, we obtain a reduced canonical description for the conjugate variables of relative population imbalance and relative phase between the two wells and proceed to a dynamical systems analysis of the resulting pair of ordinary differential equations. While in the case of cubic and quintic interactions of the same kind (e.g. both attractive or both repulsive), only a symmetry-breaking bifurcation can be identified, a remarkable effect that emerges e.g. in the setting of repulsive cubic but attractive quintic interactions is a ‘symmetry-restoring’ bifurcation. Namely, in addition to the supercritical pitchfork that leads to a spontaneous symmetry breaking of the antisymmetric state, there is a subcritical pitchfork that eventually reunites the asymmetric daughter branch with the antisymmetric parent one. The relevant bifurcations, the stability of the branches and their dynamical implications are examined both in the reduced (ODE) and in the full (PDE) setting. The model is argued to be of physical relevance, especially so in the context of optical thermal media.

Cavity-Mediated Near-Critical Dissipative Dynamics of a Driven Condensate

We investigate the near-critical dynamics of atomic density fluctuations in the nonequilibrium self-organization transition of an optically driven quantum gas coupled to a single mode of a cavity. In this system cavity-mediated long-range interactions between atoms, tunable by the drive strength, lead to softening of an excitation mode recently observed in experiments. This phenomenon has previously been studied within a two-mode approximation for the collective motional degrees of freedom of the atomic condensate, which results in an effective open-system Dicke model. Here, including the full spectrum of atomic modes we find a finite lifetime for a rotonlike mode in the Bogoliubov excitation spectrum that is strongly pump dependent. The corresponding decay rate and critical exponents for the phase transition are calculated explaining the nonmonotonic pump-dependent atomic damping rate observed in recent experiments. We compute the near-critical behavior of the intracavity field fluctuations that has been previously shown to be enhanced with respect to the equilibrium Dicke model in a two-mode approximation. We highlight the role of the finite size of the system in the suppression of it below the expectations of the open Dicke model.

Near-forward Raman scattering by bulk and surface phonon-polaritons in the model percolation-type ZnBeSe alloy

We study the bulk and surface phonon-polaritons of the Zn0.67Be0.33Se zincblende alloy by near-forward Raman scattering. The short (Be-Se) bond exhibits a distinct percolation doublet in the conventional backscattering Raman spectra, corresponding to a three-mode behavior in total [1×(Zn-Se), 2×(Be-Se)] for Zn0.67Be0.33Se. This offers an opportunity to achieve a refined understanding of the phonon-polariton modes of a zincblende alloy beyond the current two-mode approximation, corresponding to a [1×(Zn-Se), 1×(Be-Se)] description in the present case. The discussion is supported by contour modeling of the Raman signals of the multi-mode bulk and surface phonon-polaritons within the formalism of the linear dielectric response.

Dynamics of a nonlocal discrete Gross-Pitaevskii equation with defects

We study the dynamics of dipolar gas in deep lattices described by a nonlocal nonlinear discrete Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The stabilities and the propagation properties of traveling plane waves in the system with defects are discussed in detail. For a clean lattice, both energetic and dynamical stabilities of the traveling plane waves are studied. It is shown that the system with attractive local interaction can preserve the stabilities, i.e., the dipoles can stabilize the gas because of repulsive nonlocal dipole-dipole interactions. For a lattice with defects, within a two-mode approximation, the propagation properties of traveling plane waves in the system map onto a nonrigid pendulum Hamiltonian with quasimomentum-dependent nonlinearity (induced by the nonlocal interactions). Competition between defects, quasimomentum of the gas, and nonlocal interactions determines the propagation properties of the traveling plane waves. Critical conditions for crossing from a superfluid regime with propagation preserved to a normal regime with defect-induced damping are obtained analytically and confirmed numerically. In particular, the critical conditions for supporting the superfluidity strongly depend on the defect type and the quasimomentum of the plane waves. The nonlocal interaction can significantly enhance the superfluidity of the system.

SPIN SQUEEZING DYNAMICS IN TWO-COMPONENT BOSE–EINSTEIN CONDENSATES

We investigate spin squeezing dynamics in a two-component Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) in the presence of the nonlinear interatomic interaction, interspecies interaction and Josephson-like tunneling interaction. In particular, we are interesting in the dependence of spin squeezing parameter on the interspecies interaction and the numbers of atom. By adopting the two-mode approximation and the rotating wave approximation, we succeed in obtaining analytical solutions for the optimally squeezed angle and spin squeezing parameter. It is shown that the stronger interspecies interaction induces faster spin squeezing and the more atoms or the larger population imbalance induces stronger squeezing; while the Josephson-like tunneling gives vanishing contribution to spin squeezing.

Stationary states of a PT symmetric two-mode Bose–Einstein condensate

The understanding of nonlinear PT symmetric quantum systems, arising for example in the theory of Bose–Einstein condensates in PT symmetric potentials, is widely based on numerical investigations, and little is known about generic features induced by the interplay of PT symmetry and nonlinearity. To gain deeper insights it is important to have analytically solvable toy models at hand. In the present paper the stationary states of a simple toy model of a PT symmetric system previously introduced in [1, 2] are investigated. The model can be interpreted as a simple description of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a PT symmetric double well trap in a two-mode approximation. The eigenvalues and eigenstates of the system can be explicitly calculated in a straightforward manner; the resulting structures resemble those that have recently been found numerically for a more realistic PT symmetric double delta potential. In addition, a continuation of the system is introduced that allows an interpretation in terms of a simple linear matrix model.This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to ‘Quantum physics with non-Hermitian operators’.

Landau–Zener–Stückelberg interferometry in -symmetric optical waveguides

We investigate theoretically the non-adiabatic transitions in a -symmetric lattice subject to a strong ac force. In an optical realization of the lattice, the curvature of the waveguides along the paraxial propagation direction plays the role of the external periodic force necessary to drive the system through an avoided level crossing. Analytical expressions for the transition probabilities after multiple passages are obtained within an effective two-mode approximation. We show that gain and losses of the light beam, as well as the relative occupation probabilities of the bands involved in the transitions, can be accurately managed upon tuning the parameters of the system and are particularly sensitive to the amplitude of the non-Hermitian component of the lattice. Numerical simulations for the complete system are found to agree very well with the approximate analytical results.This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to ‘Quantum physics with non-Hermitian operators’.

Superfluid Fermi gases in an optical lattice with random defects

We investigate the superfluidity of Fermi gases in a deep annular optical lattice with random defects, focusing on discussion of the interplay between defects and Fermi atomic interaction along the BCS-BEC crossover. Within a hydrodynamic scheme and a two-mode approximation, we obtain an analytic expression of atomic density as a function of the defects and the Fermi atomic interaction along the BCS-BEC crossover for supporting a superfluid flow. The analytical results are confirmed by direct numerical simulations. We find that there exists a critical atomic density along the BCS-BEC crossover which divided the system into two regimes: a normal regime with disorder induced damping and a superfluid regime with a plane wave travels coherently through the randomly distributed defects. Importantly, the defects and the atomic interaction are coupled, and the superfluidity of the system strongly depends on the properties of the defects and the atomic interaction. The system easily supports the superfluid states on the BCS side than that on the BEC side.

The self-trapping of superfluid Fermi gases in the Bose-Einstein condensation regime and in unitarity

In the mean-field theory and two-mode approximation, we study the self-trapping of superfluid Fermi gases in the BEC regime and in unitarity by observing the evolution of the population imbalance with time and the variation of the average of population imbalance with several non-linear interaction parameters. The high-frequency modulations of both the symmetric double-well potential and the potential well are studied. The boundary conditions of the self-trapping and non-self-trapping are given. We find that high-frequency modulation in a certain range of modulation can make the self-trapping phenomenon easier to achieve. Finally, we study the influence of the initial value on self-trapping, and find that the increase of the absolute of the initial value can make the self-trapping more conducive to the realization.

Structure of whispering-gallery modes in optical microdisks perturbed by nanoparticles

It is a well-known fact that a single nanoparticle placed in the evanescent field of an optical microdisk leads to coherent backscattering of light between counterpropagating whispering-gallery modes. This backscattering lifts the spectral degeneracy giving rise to a doublet of standing-wave modes. Here, we show that the evanescent coupling of two or more nanoparticles leads in general to asymmetric backscattering (i.e., the strength of the scattering of light from the clockwise to the counterclockwise propagation direction is different than the other way around). Even if the strength of the backscattering is weak its asymmetry can have a dramatic impact on the mode structure. In the regime of overlapping resonances the modes do not have a standing-wave character. Instead nonorthogonal pairs of mainly copropagating modes are formed. In the extreme case the pair of optical modes coalesce at a so-called exceptional point. We derive an effective Hamiltonian within a two-mode approximation which reveals that this unexpected behavior is due to interference of the scattered waves which can be destructive or constructive depending on the propagation direction of the light.

Non-adiabatic transitions in a non-symmetric optical lattice

We study Landau–Zener interband transitions for a non-symmetric optical lattice in the presence of an external force. We show that gain and losses of the light beam, as well as the relative occupation probabilities of the bands involved in the transitions, can be accurately managed upon tuning the amplitude of the non-Hermitian component of the lattice. Exact expressions for the transition and non-transition probabilities for a non-symmetric system obtained within a two-mode approximation are provided. These equations successfully account for the main features of the transitions in the optical lattice. We also interpret the non-conventional Bloch oscillations at criticality studied in Longhi (2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 123601) as a series of Landau–Zener transitions.

Quantum particle-number fluctuations in a two-component Bose gas in a double-well potential

Two component Bose gas in a double well potential with repulsive interactions may undergo a phase separation transition if the inter-species interactions outweigh the intra-species ones. We analyze the transition in the strong interaction limit within the two-mode approximation. Numbers of particles in each potential well are equal and constant. However, at the transition point, the ground state of the system reveals huge fluctuations of numbers of particles belonging to the different gas components. That is, probability for observation of any mixture of particles in each potential well becomes uniform.