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Macroscopic coherence in quantum fluids allows the observation of interference effects in their wavefunctions, and enables applications such as superconducting quantum interference devices based on Josephson tunneling. The Josephson effect manifests in both fermionic and bosonic systems, and has been well studied in superfluid helium and atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. In exciton-polariton condensates - that offer a path to integrated semiconductor platforms - creating weak links in ring geometries has so far remained challenging. In this work, we realize a Josephson junction in a polariton ring condensate. Using optical control of the barrier, we induce net circulation around the ring and demonstrate both superfluid-hydrodynamic and the Josephson regime characterized by a sinusoidal tunneling current. Our theory in terms of the free-energy landscapes explains the appearance of these regimes using experimental values. These results show that weak links in ring condensates can be explored in optical integrated circuits and hold potential for room-temperature applications., Comment: Main text: 11 pages, 4 figures, and Supplementary Information: 9 pages, 6 figures

In the field of disordered photonics, a common objective is to characterize optically opaque materials for controlling light delivery or performing imaging. Among various complex devices, multi-mode optical fibers stand out as cost-effective and easy-to-handle tools, making them attractive for several tasks. In this context, we leverage the reservoir computing paradigm to recast these fibers into random hardware projectors, transforming an input dataset into a higher dimensional speckled image set. The goal of our study is to demonstrate that using such randomized data for classification by training a single logistic regression layer improves accuracy compared to training on direct raw images. Interestingly, we found that the classification accuracy achieved using the reservoir is also higher than that obtained with the standard transmission matrix model, a widely accepted tool for describing light transmission through disordered devices. We find that the reason for such improved performance could be due to the fact that the hardware classifier operates in a flatter region of the loss landscape when trained on fiber data, which aligns with the current theory of deep neural networks. These findings strongly suggest that multi-mode fibers possess robust generalization properties, positioning them as promising tools for optically-assisted neural networks. With this study, in fact, we want to contribute to advancing the knowledge and practical utilization of these versatile instruments, which may play a significant role in shaping the future of machine learning.

We quantum-simulated the 2D Harper-Hofstadter (HH) lattice model in a highly elongated tube geometry -- three sites in circumference -- using an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. In addition to the usual transverse (out-of-plane) magnetic flux, piercing the surface of the tube, we threaded a longitudinal flux $\Phi_{\rm L}$ down the axis of the tube This geometry evokes an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer, where noise in $\Phi_{\rm L}$ would readily decohere the interference present in trajectories encircling the tube. We observe this behavior only when transverse flux is a rational fraction of the flux-quantum, and remarkably find that for irrational fractions the decoherence is absent. Furthermore, at rational values of transverse flux, we show that the time evolution averaged over the noisy longitudinal flux matches the time evolution at nearby irrational fluxes. Thus, the appealing intuitive picture of an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer is insufficient. Instead, we quantitatively explain our observations by transforming the HH model into a collection of momentum-space Aubry-Andr\'{e} models.

A rich variety of physical effects in spin dynamics arises at the interface between different magnetic materials. Engineered systems with interlaced magnetic structures have been used to implement spin transistors, memories and other spintronic devices. However, experiments in solid state systems can be difficult to interpret because of disorder and losses. Here, we realize analogues of magnetic junctions using a coherently-coupled mixture of ultracold bosonic gases. The spatial inhomogeneity of the atomic gas makes the system change its behavior from regions with oscillating magnetization -- resembling a magnetic material in the presence of an external transverse field -- to regions with a defined magnetization, as in magnetic materials with a ferromagnetic anisotropy stronger than external fields. Starting from a far-from-equilibrium fully polarized state, magnetic interfaces rapidly form. At the interfaces, we observe the formation of short-wavelength magnetic waves. They are generated by a quantum torque contribution to the spin current and produce strong spatial anticorrelations in the magnetization. Our results establish ultracold gases as a platform for the study of far-from-equilibrium spin dynamics in regimes that are not easily accessible in solid-state systems., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

We present the first experimental demonstration of a multiple-radiofrequency dressed potential for the configurable magnetic confinement of ultracold atoms. We load cold $^{87}$Rb atoms into a double well potential with an adjustable barrier height, formed by three radiofrequencies applied to atoms in a static quadrupole magnetic field. Our multiple-radiofrequency approach gives precise control over the double well characteristics, including the depth of individual wells and the height of the barrier, and enables reliable transfer of atoms between the available trapping geometries. We have characterised the multiple-radiofrequency dressed system using radiofrequency spectroscopy, finding good agreement with the eigenvalues numerically calculated using Floquet theory. This method creates trapping potentials that can be reconfigured by changing the amplitudes, polarizations and frequencies of the applied dressing fields, and easily extended with additional dressing frequencies., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures

We study a novel millimetre-scale magnetic trap for ultracold atoms, in which the current carrying conductors can be situated outside the vacuum region, a few mm away from the atoms. This design generates a magnetic field gradient in excess of \SI{1000}{G/cm} at a distance of \SI{2}{mm} from the conductors. We perform electromagnetic and thermo-mechanical characterisation using Finite Element Methods (FEM). The predicted behaviour has been verified by electrical and thermal measurements on a prototype, but has not been implemented on an apparatus with cold atoms. Operating this trap at the highest gradient allows for rapid evaporative cooling comparable to that achieved by atom chips., Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures

We consider the stability of systems subjected to periodic parametric driving such that their equations of motion are ordinary differential equations with periodic coefficients and carry out a detailed analysis of important aspects of such systems in the context of the confinement of ions by oscillating electric fields. We show how they can be understood in terms of a pseudopotential approximation and resonances arising from the parametric excitation and investigate the properties of a novel linear Paul trap configuration operating with two radio-frequencies to simultaneously confine two species with extremely different charge-to-mass ratios. The theoretical calculations have been verified by molecular dynamics simulations and normal modes analysis., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures

We present a laser beam shaping method using acousto-optic deflection of light and discuss its application to dipole trapping of ultracold atoms. By driving the acousto-optic deflector with multiple frequencies, we generate an array of overlapping diffraction-limited beams that combine to form an arbitrary-shaped smooth and continuous trapping potential. Confinement of atoms in a flat-bottomed potential formed by a laser beam with uniform intensity over its central region confers numerous advantages over the harmonic confinement intrinsic to Gaussian beam dipole traps and many other trapping schemes.We demonstrate the versatility of this beam shaping method by generating potentials with large flat-topped regions as well as intensity patterns compensating for residual external potentials to create a uniform background to which the trapping potential of experimental interest can be added., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures