Producing and manipulating controllable quantum states of atoms and photons are of great interest not only for probing fundamental quantum physics but also for developing future quantum technology. Modern technology allows us to understand atom-photon interaction from various perspectives. In this PhD thesis research work, I will describe two different approaches to study atoms and photons in quantum regime.

In atomic, molecule and optical (AMO) physics, ultracold atoms exhibit their values and potentials in acting as platforms for investigating many-body physics. Here I describe our recent effort in producing a Bose-Einstein condensate of ¹⁷⁴Yb atoms and a degenerate Fermi gas of ¹⁷³Yb atoms. Those atomic systems can be used to simulate many-body physics, which cannot be found...[ Read more ]

Producing and manipulating controllable quantum states of atoms and photons are of great interest not only for probing fundamental quantum physics but also for developing future quantum technology. Modern technology allows us to understand atom-photon interaction from various perspectives. In this PhD thesis research work, I will describe two different approaches to study atoms and photons in quantum regime.

In atomic, molecule and optical (AMO) physics, ultracold atoms exhibit their values and potentials in acting as platforms for investigating many-body physics. Here I describe our recent effort in producing a Bose-Einstein condensate of ¹⁷⁴Yb atoms and a degenerate Fermi gas of ¹⁷³Yb atoms. Those atomic systems can be used to simulate many-body physics, which cannot be found in conventional electron-based systems.

On the side of photons, we study an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) based quantum heat engine (QHE), which employs cold atoms as working substance. We experimentally constructed this QHE and demonstrated directional thermal radiation with a spectral brightness that is about 9 times higher than that of the ambient pumping reservoir. This nontraditional coherence-based QHE violates detailed balance and Kirchhoffs law.

At last, I will discuss our ongoing effort in building a cold atomic ensemble embedded in a cavity system for studying cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED), coupling between photons and atoms is achieved via the combination of the resonance enhancement of a cavity and a collective enhancement of an ensemble.