Quantum simulation of ultrafast dynamics with degenerate strontium

We present recent progress in the development of techniques for quantum emulation of ultrafast dynamics using trapped ultracold atoms. The dynamics of neutral atoms in the ground state of an optical trap subject to time-varying forces are mapped to the dynamics of bound electrons subject to the electric field of a pulsed laser. The tunability of the time-dependent forces and trap parameters along with the slower timescale of the dynamics make the platform of a cold atom simulator a versatile testbed to investigate experimentally-infeasible parameter regimes and pulse shapes. In one experimental approach, inertial forces from controlled periodic “shaking” of the optical trap act in analogy to the laser field acting on bound electrons. Similarly, the analog to the laser field can also be implemented with far off-resonant light with a linear gradient intensity profile implementing a digital micromirror device. This allows us to explore phenomena such as strong field stabilization against ionization and single-atom high-harmonic generation, as well as implement arbitrary, even unphysical pulse shapes.