Researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of quantum physics, finding indications that chaotic many-body systems can be described using a theory called fluctuating hydrodynamics. Led by Professors Monika Aidelsburger and Immanuel Bloch, the team investigated whether simple diffusion equations with random noise could be used to describe complex quantum systems.
According to Julian Wienand, lead author of the study, this approach, known as fluctuating hydrodynamics (FHD), has been successful in describing classical systems, such as the flow behavior of water. The researchers applied FHD to a chaotic many-body quantum system of ultracold cesium atoms in optical lattices and found that it described the system both qualitatively and quantitatively. This breakthrough could greatly simplify the description of complex quantum systems, which are notoriously difficult to calculate. The study, published in Nature Physics, has significant implications for our understanding of chaotic systems in the quantum realm.
Describing Chaotic Quantum Systems with Fluctuating Hydrodynamics
The behavior of many-body systems, whether classical or quantum, can be highly complex and chaotic. However, researchers have found that some of these systems can be described using simple theories. A recent study led by Professor Monika Aidelsburger and Professor Immanuel Bloch from the LMU Faculty of Physics has investigated this question in the context of quantum many-body systems. The team discovered indications that these systems can be described macroscopically through simple diffusion equations with random noise, a theory known as fluctuating hydrodynamics (FHD).
In classical physics, FHD is used to describe the behavior of particles suspended in a fluid, such as water molecules. The motion of these particles is not only carried by the flow but also exhibits small erratic movements known as Brownian motion. These fluctuations are a direct consequence of the random collisions of the particles with individual water molecules. By describing these erratic movements as white noise, FHD can simplify the macroscopic description of such systems and obviate the need to engage with a description of the particles’ microscopic interactions.
The researchers applied this concept to quantum systems, which are characterized by phenomena like “uncertainty” and “entanglement.” These laws of physics are fundamentally different from those governing classical particles and make quantum systems even more difficult to calculate. However, an FHD description could greatly simplify the macroscopic description of these systems. To investigate this, the team studied the behavior of chaotic many-body quantum systems under the microscope.
The Experiment: Observing Chaotic Quantum Systems
The research team prepared a quantum system of ultracold cesium atoms in optical lattices in a non-equilibrium initial state and then let it evolve freely. By using a high-resolution imaging system, they were able to measure not only the average density of the particles in the lattice sites but also their fluctuations. This allowed them to observe how the fluctuations and density correlations grew over time.
The team found that FHD describes their system both qualitatively and quantitatively. The researchers consider this to be an important indication that chaotic quantum systems, despite their microscopic complexity, can be described simply as a macroscopic diffusion process – similar to Brownian motion. This finding has significant implications for the study of quantum systems, as it could provide a new framework for understanding and predicting their behavior.
Fluctuating Hydrodynamics: A Simplified Description of Chaotic Systems
FHD is a powerful tool for describing complex systems, as it can simplify the macroscopic description of these systems and obviate the need to engage with a description of the particles’ microscopic interactions. In the context of quantum systems, FHD could provide a new framework for understanding and predicting their behavior. The theory describes the erratic movements of particles as white noise, which allows for a simplified description of the system’s behavior.
The researchers’ findings suggest that chaotic quantum systems can be described using FHD, despite their microscopic complexity. This has significant implications for the study of quantum systems, as it could provide a new framework for understanding and predicting their behavior. Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of FHD in describing chaotic quantum systems.
Implications and Future Directions
The discovery that chaotic quantum systems can be described using FHD has significant implications for the study of quantum systems. It could provide a new framework for understanding and predicting their behavior, which could have important applications in fields such as quantum computing and materials science. Further research is needed to explore the potential of FHD in describing chaotic quantum systems fully.
The researchers’ findings also raise interesting questions about the nature of chaos in quantum systems. Do these systems exhibit universal behavior, or are they fundamentally different from classical chaotic systems? Answering these questions could provide new insights into the behavior of complex systems and have important implications for our understanding of the natural world.
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