Experimental realization of quantum zeno dynamics

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4194
• Publication Date: 2014-01-30T09:53:51Z
• Authors: F. Schäfer; I. Herrera; S. Cherukattil; C. Lovecchio; F.S. Cataliotti; F. Caruso; A. Smerzi
• Keywords: computation; Quantum Physics; atoms; Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph); FOS: Physical sciences; dissispation; 01 natural sciences; Article; Physics - Atomic Physics; Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas); 0103 physical sciences; Quantum dynamics; Ultracold atoms; Quantum measurements; decoherence; Condensed Matter - Quantum Gases; Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

It is generally impossible to probe a quantum system without disturbing it. However, it is possible to exploit the back action of quantum measurements and strong couplings to tailor and protect the coherent evolution of a quantum system. This is a profound and counterintuitive phenomenon known as quantum Zeno dynamics. Here we demonstrate quantum Zeno dynamics with a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate in a five-level Hilbert space. We harness measurements and strong couplings to dynamically disconnect different groups of quantum states and constrain the atoms to coherently evolve inside a two-level subregion. In parallel to the foundational importance due to the realization of a dynamical superselection rule and the theory of quantum measurements, this is an important step forward in protecting and controlling quantum dynamics and, broadly speaking, quantum information processing.