Generation of atypical hopping and interactions by kinetic driving

Abstract

We study the effect of time-periodically varying the hopping amplitude in a one-dimensional Bose–Hubbard model, such that its time-averaged value is zero. Employing Floquet theory, we derive a static effective Hamiltonian in which nearest-neighbor single-particle hopping processes are suppressed, but all even higher-order processes are allowed. Unusual many-body features arise from the combined effect of nonlocal interactions and correlated tunneling. At a critical value of the driving, the system passes from a Mott insulator to a superfluid formed by two quasi-condensates with opposite non-zero momenta. This work shows how driving of the hopping energy provides a novel form of Floquet engineering, which enables atypical Hamiltonians and exotic states of matter to be produced and controlled.