Disorder-enhanced phase coherence in trapped bosons on optical lattices

Abstract

The consequences of disorder on interacting bosons trapped in one-dimensional optical lattices are investigated by quantum Monte Carlo simulations. A numerical analysis of the momentum distribution function, the stiffness and the compressibility reveals a unique response to small to moderate strengths of potential disorder. If there is a Mott plateau at the centre of the trap in the clean limit, phase coherence increases as a result of disorder. The localization effects due to correlation and disorder compete against each other, resulting in a partial delocalization of the particles in the Mott region, which in turn leads to increased phase coherence. In the absence of a Mott plateau, this effect is absent. A detailed analysis of the uniform system without a trap shows that the disordered states participate in a Bose glass phase.