Quantum synchronization in spin systems driven by classical coupling fields*

Classical synchronization plays a key role in many areas in the physical sciences and beyond, including in medicine and the social sciences. Several extensions of synchronization to the quantum domain have been considered in the literature, aiming to identify, among other things, whether the quantum nature of the system enhances or inhibits synchronization. We report our progress on a joint theory-experiment project, which aims to quantify quantum synchronization in a spin system, realized using the hyperfine states of alkali atoms in a magneto-optical trap. Even though spin systems have no direct classical analog, the transition to the classical regime can be studied by increasing the number of spin states, i.e., by working with hyperfine manifolds with larger total spin F. We present a theoretical characterization of the system as well as our experimental design.