Thermalisation of a spin-1 Bose gas in a double well

Project level: Honours, Summer

This project simulates the quantum dynamics of a “spin-1” Bose gas in a double well potential.  A spin-1 gas has three spin components, which can interconvert due to spin-collisions (eg 0 + 0  <-> -1 + +1).  The energy of each of the spin components is affected by an external magnetic field via the quadratic Zeeman effect – and the ground state of the system changes as the magnetic field passes a critical value. The plan for this project is to start with the system in a ground state at high magnetic field, and then follow the exact quantum dynamics when it is turned off.  The goal is to characterize the attainment of thermal equilibrium in the system, and the behaviour of any macroscopic entanglement that is generated.