Research InterestsMy research interests span several areas in the exciting, new field of quantum atom optics: Bose-Einstein Condensation I'm interested in studying the formation and dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) in a completely quantum-mechanical regime. Some cool problems are: a) evaporative cooling and BEC formation b) BEC in a double well c) formation and dissociation of molecules in a BEC d) BEC in an optical lattice Quantum phase-space simulation techniques The multimode simulation techniques developed in quantum optics are limited in BEC problems to very short-time simulations, because atoms (even near absolute zero) interact much more strongly than do photons. The UQ BEC group is currently working on several fronts to extend these phase-space simulations techniques. My work includes the development of a very general class of simulation methods based on Gaussian-state expansions. A novel aspect of the Gaussian representation is that is can be applied to fermions as well as to bosons, which was not possible with ealier phase-space methods. Ultracold Fermions Having developed the means to do phase-space simulations of fermions, I have started to apply the methods to various problems, including the Hubbard model of condensed matter physics, and the BEC-BCS crossover problem that is of current interest in ultracold atoms. So far the new methods have had success against the notorious sign problem in fermionic physics. Quantum effects in optical fibres I have a continuing interest in the effects of quantum noise on soliton propagation. Specific projects include: a) limits to soliton-based communications b) soliton squeezing Nonlinear optics My work in this area has focussed on soliton propagation in periodic, x(2) materials. The periodicity allows effective control over the quadratic nonlinearity and induces cubic nonlinearities. Most recently, I've looked at what effect the periodicity has on the modulational instabilities and whether the induced cubic terms are sufficient remove to them. Here is a recent presentation of mine on: |