Contrary to the qubit-based, discrete systems, continuous quantum platforms enable encoding increased complexity into fewer physical systems through large-scale non-Gaussian states. Motion, as an exemplary continuous degree of freedom, underpins numerous nonlinear phenomena—from Cooper pair dynamics and optical wave packets to the macroscopic levitated objects. Despite significant progress in harnessing mechanical nonlinearities and generating quantum non-Gaussian states in low-energy regimes, their full potential remains untapped. Achieving high-quality, high-energy, and spatially large quantum non-Gaussian states is essential for progress in quantum sensing, quantum simulations, and foundational tests of quantum mechanics.In the talk, I will present the following control tasks for various nonlinear mechanical systems, including trapped atoms, levitated particles, and clamped oscillators with spin-motion coupling.(i) Nonharmonic potential modulation: Optimal control of a particle in a nonharmonic potential enables the generation of non-Gaussian states and arbitrary unitaries within a chosen two-level subspace [1].(ii) Macroscopic quantum states of levitated particles: Rapid preparation of a particle’s center of mass in a macroscopic superposition is achieved by releasing it from a harmonic trap into a static double-well potential after ground-state cooling [2].(iii) Phase-insensitive displacement sensing: For randomized phase-space displacements, quantum optimal control identifies number-squeezed cat states as optimal for force sensitivity under lossy dynamics [3, 4].These approaches exploit either intrinsic nonharmonicity or coherent nonlinear coupling, providing a unified framework for motion control in continuous-variable quantum systems—from levitated nanoparticles to optical and microwave resonators—paving the way toward universal quantum control of mechanical degrees of freedom.[1] PTG, H. Pichler, C. A. Regal, O. Romero-Isart, Quantum control of continuous systems via nonharmonic potential modulation, Quantum 9, 1824 (2025)[2] M. Roda-Llordes, A. Riera-Campeny, D. Candoli, PTG, O. Romero-Isart, Macroscopic quantum superpositions via dynamics in a wide double-well potential, Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 023601 (2024)[3] PTG, R. Filip, Optimal Phase-Insensitive Force Sensing with Non-Gaussian States, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 230802 (2025)[4] PTG, M. Fadel, R. Filip, Distributed Phase-Insensitive Displacement Sensing, arXiv: 2602.03727 (2026)
Zapraszamy do sali 0.06, ul. Pasteura 5 o godzinie 10:15

Marcin Gronowski (IFT UW)
Ultracold polar molecules are crucial components in a wide range of cross-disciplinary experiments, including controlled chemistry, quantum simulation, and precision measurements. Thus, the design and interpretation of such experiments require detailed knowledge of molecular properties. Many of these properties can be predicted using modern ab initio electronic structure methods, which I will demonstrate on a few examples. In the first part, I will discuss high-accuracy predictions for two diatomic molecules: NaLi in the a3Σ+ state [1] and LiCr in the a8Σ+ state [2]. In both cases, we employ a hierarchy of coupled-cluster wavefunctions and extended Gaussian basis sets. Additionally, we account for nonadiabatic, relativistic, and quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects. The resulting potentials enable reliable predictions of ultracold scattering properties in complex many-electron systems directly from first principles. In the second part, I address the properties of intermediate triatomic complexes formed during nonreactive collisions between an ultracold alkali-metal molecule and an alkali-metal atom. For the KRb (X1Σ+) + Rb(2S) system [3], we identify an energetically accessible conical intersection between the ground and first excited electronic states, accompanied by an enhancement of spin-rotation coupling. This interaction may be involved in the experimentally observed hyperfine-to-rotational energy transfer. In the NaLi(a3Σ+) + Na(2S) system [4, 5], nonadditive three-body interactions reshape the potential energy surface. The combined effects of electron spin-spin and spin-rotation interactions, together with potential anisotropy, alter the collision dynamics. Together, these results demonstrated the intrinsic complexity of ultracold atom-molecule collisions, which involve vibrational, rotational, and spin degrees of freedom. [1] Gronowski, M., Koza, A. M., and Tomza, M. (2020) Ab initio properties of the NaLi molecule in the a3Σ+ electronic state. Physical Review A, 102(2), 020801.[2] Finelli, S., Ciamei, A., Restivo, B., Schemmer, M., Cosco, A., Inguscio, M., Trenkwalder, A., Zaremba-Kopczyk, K., Gronowski, M., Tomza, M., and Zaccanti, M. (2024) Ultracold LiCr: A New Pathway to Quantum Gases of Paramagnetic Polar Molecules. PRX Quantum, 5, 020358.[3] Liu, Y.-X., Zhu, L., Luke, J., Babin, M. C., Gronowski, M., Ladjimi, H., Tomza, M., Bohn, J. L., Tscherbul, T. V., and Ni, K.-K. (2025) Hyperfine-to-rotational energy transfer in ultracold atom–molecule collisions of Rb and KRb. Nature Chemistry, 17, 688–694.[4] Park, J. J., Son, H., Lu, Y.-K., Karman, T., Gronowski, M., Tomza, M., Jamison, A. O., and Ketterle, W. (2023) Spectrum of Feshbach Resonances in NaLi+Na Collisions. Physical Review X, 13, 031018.[5] Karman, T., Gronowski, M., Tomza, M., Park, J. J., Son, H., Lu, Y.-K., Jamison, A. O., and Ketterle, W. (2023) Ab initio calculation of the spectrum of Feshbach resonances in NaLi+Na collisions. Physical Review A, 108, 023309.