Professor Dirk K. Morr
University of Illinois at Chicago

Quantum Photography and Quantum Sound
or
How to take pictures and make music in the
quantum world

Abstract:
The formation of optical images or sound is fundamentally related to the properties of waves. Experimental advances over the last few years have made it possible to use the wave-like nature of electrons in condensed matter systems to form quantum images (also called quantum mirages) in solids. For example, Manoharan et al. demonstrated that it is possible to form a quantum image of a Kondo-resonance inside an elliptic quantum corral (an arti€cial atomic structure) that resides on the surface of a metal. In this talk, I demonstrate that the interaction of quantum corrals with correlated electron systems gives rise to a series of novel quantum phenomena. In particular, I will focus on super-conducting host systems, which allow for the formation of novel “quantum candles” (i.e., distinct features in the density of states) whose images can be projected. I will show that the interplay between the quantum corral and the superconducting correlations of the host system lead to (a) novel type of quantum phase transitions, (b) the formation of multiple quantum images or the destruction of the “quantum candle”, and (c) the emergence of new selection rules governing the formation of quantum images. Finally, I show that interplay the corral’s geometry and the momentum dependence of the super-conducting order parameter gives rise to the appearance of new resonance states inside the superconducting gap.