Quantum metasurfaces as probes of vacuum particle content

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Tobar, Germain, Foo, Joshua, Qvarfort, Sofia, Costa, Fabio, Bekenstein, Rivka, Zych, Magdalena
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Tobar, Germain
Foo, Joshua
Qvarfort, Sofia
Costa, Fabio
Bekenstein, Rivka
Zych, Magdalena
author_facet Tobar, Germain
Foo, Joshua
Qvarfort, Sofia
Costa, Fabio
Bekenstein, Rivka
Zych, Magdalena
contents The quantum vacuum of the electromagnetic field is inherently entangled across distinct spatial sub-regions resulting in entangled particle content across these sub-regions. However accessing this particle content in a controlled laboratory experiment has remained out of experimental reach. Here we propose to overcome this challenge with a quantum mirror made from a two-dimensional sub-wavelength array of atoms that divides a photonic cavity. The array response to light is tunable between transmissive and reflective states by a control atom that is excited to a Rydberg state. We find that vacuum photon content from non-perturbative changes of the boundary conditions and therefore distinct spatial sub regions of the vacuum causes subtle frequency shifts that are accessible to sub-wavelength atom array platforms. This novel approach for probing vacuum particle content stems from the unique ability to create coherent dynamics of superpositions of transmissive and reflective states providing a quantum enhanced platform for observing vacuum particle creation from highly non-perturbative boundary condition changes of the electromagnetic field vacuum.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_03838
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Quantum metasurfaces as probes of vacuum particle content
Tobar, Germain
Foo, Joshua
Qvarfort, Sofia
Costa, Fabio
Bekenstein, Rivka
Zych, Magdalena
Quantum Physics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
The quantum vacuum of the electromagnetic field is inherently entangled across distinct spatial sub-regions resulting in entangled particle content across these sub-regions. However accessing this particle content in a controlled laboratory experiment has remained out of experimental reach. Here we propose to overcome this challenge with a quantum mirror made from a two-dimensional sub-wavelength array of atoms that divides a photonic cavity. The array response to light is tunable between transmissive and reflective states by a control atom that is excited to a Rydberg state. We find that vacuum photon content from non-perturbative changes of the boundary conditions and therefore distinct spatial sub regions of the vacuum causes subtle frequency shifts that are accessible to sub-wavelength atom array platforms. This novel approach for probing vacuum particle content stems from the unique ability to create coherent dynamics of superpositions of transmissive and reflective states providing a quantum enhanced platform for observing vacuum particle creation from highly non-perturbative boundary condition changes of the electromagnetic field vacuum.
title Quantum metasurfaces as probes of vacuum particle content
topic Quantum Physics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.03838