Bichromatic Optical Lattice Research Articles

Anderson localization of Cooper pairs and Majorana fermions in an ultracold atomic Fermi gas with synthetic spin-orbit coupling

We theoretically investigate two-particle and many-particle Anderson localizations of a spin-orbit coupled ultracold atomic Fermi gas trapped in a quasi-periodic potential and subjected to an out-of-plane Zeeman field. We solve exactly the two-particle problem in a finite length system by exact diagonalization and solve approximately the many-particle problem within the mean-field Bogoliubov-de Gennes approach. At a small Zeeman field, the localization properties of the system are similar to that of a Fermi gas with conventional $s$-wave interactions. As the disorder strength increases, the two-particle binding energy increases and the fermionic superfluidity of many particles disappears above a threshold. At a large Zeeman field, where the interatomic interaction behaves effectively like a $p$-wave interaction, the binding energy decreases with increasing disorder strength and the resulting topological superfluidity shows a much more robust stability against disorder than the conventional $s$-wave superfluidity. We also analyze the localization properties of the emergent Majorana fermions in the topological phase. Our results could be experimentally examined in future cold-atom experiments, where the spin-orbit coupling can be induced artificially by using two Raman lasers, and the quasi-periodic potential can be created by using bichromatic optical lattices.

Long-time averaged dynamics of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a bichromatic optical lattice with external harmonic confinement

The dynamics of a Bose–Einstein condensate are examined numerically in the presence of a one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattice (BCOL) with external harmonic confinement in the strongly interacting regime. The condensate is excited by a focusing stirring red laser. Two realizations of the BCOL are considered, one with a rational and the other with an irrational ratio of the two constituting wave lengths. The system is simulated by the time-dependent Gross Pitaevskii equation that is solved using the Crank Nicolson method in real time. It is found that for a weak BCOL, the long-time averaged physical observables of the condensate respond only very weakly (or not at all) to changes in the secondary OL depth V1 showing that under these conditions the harmonic trap plays a dominant role in governing the dynamics. However, for a much larger strength of the BCOL, the response is stronger as it begins to compete with the external harmonic trap, such that the frequency of Bloch oscillations of the bosons rises with V1 yielding higher time-averages. Qualitatively there is no difference between the dynamics of the condensate resulting from the use of a rational or irrational ratio of the wavelengths since the external harmonic trap washes it out. It is further found that in the presence of an external harmonic trap, the BCOL acts in favor of superflow.

Dynamics of pattern-loaded fermions in bichromatic optical lattices

Motivated by experiments in Munich (M. Schreiber et. al. Science \textbf{349}, 842), we study the dynamics of interacting fermions initially prepared in charge density wave states in one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices. The experiment sees a marked lack of thermalization, which has been taken as evidence for an interacting generalization of Anderson localization, dubbed "many-body localization". We model the experiments using an interacting Aubry-Andre model and develop a computationally efficient low-density cluster expansion to calculate the even-odd density imbalance as a function of interaction strength and potential strength. Our calculations agree with the experimental results and shed light on the phenomena. We also explore a two-dimensional generalization. The cluster expansion method we develop should have broad applicability to similar problems in non-equilibrium quantum physics.

Dimensional Reduction and Localization of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Quasi-1D Bichromatic Optical Lattice

We analyze the localization of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a one-dimensional bichromatic quasi-periodic optical-lattice potential by numerically solving the 1D Gross-Pitaevskii equation (1D GPE). We first derive the 1D GPE from the dimensional reduction of the 3D quantum field theory of interacting bosons obtaining two coupled differential equations (for axial wavefuction and space-time dependent transverse width) which reduce to the 1D GPE under strict conditions. Then, by using the 1D GPE we report the suppression of localization in the interacting BEC when the repulsive scattering length between bosonic atoms is sufficiently large.

Bosonic hard spheres in quasi-one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices

We calculated the phase diagram of a continuous system of hard spheres loaded in a quasi-one dimensional bichromatic optical lattice. The wavelengths of both lattice-defining lasers were chosen to model an incommensurate arrangement. Densities of one particle and half a particle per potential well were considered. Our results can be compared directly to those of the experimental system [Fallani et al. PRL, {\bf 98} 130404 (2007)] from which our initial parameters were taken. The phase diagrams for both densities are significatively different to those obtained by describing the same experimental setup with a Bose-Hubbard model.

Topological insulator and particle pumping in a one-dimensional shaken optical lattice

We propose a simple method to simulate and detect topological insulators with cold atoms trapped in a one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattice subjected to a time-periodic modulation. The tight-binding form of this shaken system is equivalent to the periodically driven Aubry-Andre model. We demonstrate that this model can be mapped into a two-dimensional Chern insulator model, whose energy spectrum hosts a topological phase within an experimentally accessible parameter regime. By tuning the laser phase adiabatically, such one-dimensional system constitutes a natural platform to realize topological particle pumping. We show that the Chern number characterizing the topological features of this system can be measured by detecting the density shift after one cycle of pumping.

Bose–Einstein condensate in a bichromatic optical lattice: an exact analytical model

We provide an exact analytical model for the dynamics of a 1D Bose–Einstein condensate loaded in a bichromatic optical lattice. Although a host of exact solutions result from this novel method, we mainly concentrate on the solitonic excitations. The trapping potential and its depth of lattice frustration can be varied by tuning the power and the wavelengths of the two overlaying laser beams. Both attractive and repulsive regimes are thoroughly investigated. In the attractive domain, we obtain bright soliton, which reveals interesting variations with the depth of lattice frustration. Localization of the matter wave density is demonstrated as one of the applications in this regime. In the repulsive domain, dark soliton is obtained when the potential resembles an optical lattice. With appropriate tuning of the potential parameter, the dark soliton becomes modulated with an oscillatory background and gradually transforms to bright solitary trains.

Localization of a spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate in a bichromatic optical lattice

We study the localization of a noninteracting and weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate with spin-orbit coupling loaded in a quasiperiodic bichromatic optical lattice potential using the numerical solution and variational approximation of a binary mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation with two pseudo-spin components. We confirm the existence of the stationary localized states in the presence of the spin-orbit and Rabi couplings for an equal distribution of atoms in the two components. We find that the interaction between the spin-orbit and Rabi couplings favors the localization or delocalization of the BEC depending on the the phase difference between the components. We also studied the oscillation dynamics of the localized states for an initial population imbalance between the two components.

Topological transitions of interacting bosons in one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices

Ultracold atoms in one-dimensional (1D) bichromatic optical lattices constitute a surprisingly simple system for the study of topological insulators. We show that bosons in 1D bichromatic lattices present as a general feature the existence, at equal fractional filling, of Mott-insulator phases with different topological character. These different phases are a direct consequence of the bosonic and interacting nature of the particles and the topological nature of the Bloch bands. We demonstrate that the associated hidden topological transitions may occur both as a function of the superlattice strength and due to intersite interactions. We also discuss the topological character of incommensurate density-wave phases in quasiperiodic superlattices.

Effective Dirac equation for ultracold atoms in optical lattices: Role of the localization properties of the Wannier functions

We review the derivation of the effective Dirac equation for ultracold atoms in one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices, following the proposal by Witthaut et al. Phys. Rev. A 84, 033601 (2011). We discuss how such a derivation - based on a suitable rotation of the Bloch basis and on a coarse graining approximation - is affected by the choice of the Wannier functions entering the coarsening procedure. We show that in general the Wannier functions obtained by rotating the maximally localized Wannier functions for the original Bloch bands can be sufficiently localized for justifying the coarse graining approximation. We also comment on the relation between the rotation needed to achieve the Dirac form and the standard Foldy-Wouthuysen transformation. Our results provide a solid ground for the interpretation of the experimental results by Salger et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 240401 (2011) in terms of an effective Dirac dynamics.

Veselago lensing with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice

Veselago pointed out that electromagnetic wave theory allows for materials with a negative index of refraction, in which most known optical phenomena would be reversed. A slab of such a material can focus light by negative refraction, an imaging technique strikingly different from conventional positive refractive index optics, where curved surfaces bend the rays to form an image of an object. Here we demonstrate Veselago lensing for matter waves, using ultracold atoms in an optical lattice. A relativistic, that is, photon-like, dispersion relation for rubidium atoms is realized with a bichromatic optical lattice potential. We rely on a Raman π-pulse technique to transfer atoms between two different branches of the dispersion relation, resulting in a focusing that is completely analogous to the effect described by Veselago for light waves. Future prospects of the demonstrated effects include novel sub-de Broglie wavelength imaging applications.

Localization of a two-component Bose–Einstein condensate in a two-dimensional bichromatic optical lattice

We consider a weakly interacting two-component Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) in a two-dimensional (2D) quasi-periodic bichromatic optical lattice (BOL). The problem is studied by means of split-step Crank–Nicolson method. The effects of weak intra- and inter-component interactions on localization of a two-component BEC are investigated. It is shown that in the quasi-2D regime, due to the enhanced disorder, there is no symmetry breaking like that in the one-dimensional (1D) case under a sine-typed potential, while configurations of density profiles are also quite different from that in the 1D case. By modulating interactions, the interplay of disorder and weak repulsive or attractive interactions is studied in detail. The cases with sine- and cosine-typed potentials acting on components 1 and 2 respectively are also discussed.

Collisionally inhomogeneous Bose–Einstein condensates with binary and three-body interactions in a bichromatic optical lattice

We study the impact of collisionally inhomogeneous binary and three-body interaction on Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) of a dilute gas in a bichromatic optical lattice. We observe that the localized matter wave density which decreases after the introduction of repulsive spatially inhomogeneous binary interaction can be sustained by the addition of constant attractive binary strength in equal amounts. If the balance between repulsive spatially inhomogeneous binary interaction and constant attractive interaction is disturbed, the condensates collapse. Reversal of interaction sign ensures the longevity of BECs. Any imbalance between attractive spatially inhomogeneous interaction and constant repulsive interaction either results in the collapse of BECs or in the occupation of the condensates at multiple sites on either side. The introduction of a weak three-body interaction in phase with the binary interaction increases the extent of the instability of BECs. Reversing the sign of spatially inhomogeneous and constant interaction enhances the stability of BECs.

Vortical Solitons of Three-Dimensional Bose—Einstein Condensates under Both a Bichromatic Optical Lattice and Anharmonic Potentials

We study Bose—Einstein condensate vortical solitons under both a bichromatic optical lattice and anharmonic potential. The vortical solitons are built in the form of a layer-chain structure made up of two fundamental vortices along the bichromatic optical lattice direction, which have not been reported before in the three-dimensional Bose—Einstein condensate. A variation approach is applied to find the optimum initial solutions of vortical solitons. The stabilities of the vortical solitons are confirmed by the numerical simulation of the time-dependent Gross—Pitaevskii equation. In particular, stable Bose—Einstein condensate vortical solitons with fundamental vortices of different atomic numbers in the external potential within a range of experimentally achievable timescales are found. We further manipulate the vortical solitons to an arbitrary position by steadily moving the bichromatic optical lattice, and find a stable region for the successful manipulation of vortical solitons without collapse. These results provide insight into controlling and manipulating the Bose—Einstein condensate vortical solitons for macroscopic quantum applications.

Fractional Topological States of Dipolar Fermions in One-Dimensional Optical Superlattices

We study the properties of dipolar fermions trapped in one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices and show the existence of fractional topological states in the presence of strong dipole-dipole interactions. We find some interesting connections between fractional topological states in one-dimensional superlattices and the fractional quantum Hall states: (i)the one-dimensional fractional topological states for systems at filling factor ν=1/p have p-fold degeneracy, (ii)the quasihole excitations fulfill the same counting rule as that of fractional quantum Hall states, and (iii)the total Chern number of p-fold degenerate states is a nonzero integer. The existence of crystalline order in our system is also consistent with the thin-torus limit of the fractional quantum Hall state on a torus. The possible experimental realization in cold atomic systems offers a new platform for the study of fractional topological phases in one-dimensional superlattice systems.

Anderson Localization of Pairs in Bichromatic Optical Lattices

We investigate the formation of bound states made of two interacting atoms moving in a one dimensional (1D) quasiperiodic optical lattice. We derive the quantum phase diagram for Anderson localization of both attractively and repulsively bound pairs. We calculate the pair binding energy and show analytically that its behavior as a function of the interaction strength depends crucially on the nature-extended, multifractal, localized-of the single-particle atomic states. Experimental implications of our results are discussed.

Light scattering from ultracold gases in disordered optical lattices

We consider a gas of bosons in a bichromatic optical lattice at finite temperatures. As the amplitude of the secondary lattice grows, the single-particle eigenstates become localized. We calculate the canonical partition function using exact methods for the noninteracting and strongly interacting limits and analyze the statistical properties of the superfluid phase, localized phase, and the strongly interacting gas. We show that those phases may be distinguished in experiment using off-resonant light scattering.

Edge States and Topological Phases in One-Dimensional Optical Superlattices

We show that one-dimensional quasiperiodic optical lattice systems can exhibit edge states and topological phases which are generally believed to appear in two-dimensional systems. When the Fermi energy lies in gaps, the Fermi system on the optical superlattice is a topological insulator characterized by a nonzero topological invariant. The topological nature can be revealed by observing the density profile of a trapped fermion system, which displays plateaus with their positions uniquely determined by the ration of wavelengths of the bichromatic optical lattice. The butterflylike spectrum of the superlattice system can be also determined from the finite-temperature density profiles of the trapped fermion system. This finding opens an alternative avenue to study the topological phases and Hofstadter-like spectrum in one-dimensional optical lattices.

Optical lattice quantum simulator for quantum electrodynamics in strong external fields: spontaneous pair creation and the Sauter–Schwinger effect

The spontaneous creation of electron–positron pairs out of the vacuum due to a strong electric field is a spectacular manifestation of the relativistic energy–momentum relation for the Dirac fermions. This fundamental prediction of quantum electrodynamics has not yet been confirmed experimentally, as the generation of a sufficiently strong electric field extending over a large enough space–time volume still presents a challenge. Surprisingly, distant areas of physics may help us to circumvent this difficulty. In condensed matter and solid state physics (areas commonly considered as low-energy physics), one usually deals with quasi-particles instead of real electrons and positrons. Since their mass gap can often be freely tuned, it is much easier to create these light quasi-particles by an analogue of the Sauter–Schwinger effect. This motivates our proposal for a quantum simulator in which excitations of ultra-cold atoms moving in a bichromatic optical lattice represent particles and antiparticles (holes) satisfying a discretized version of the Dirac equation together with fermionic anti-commutation relations. Using the language of second quantization, we are able to construct an analogue of the spontaneous pair creation which can be realized in an (almost) table-top experiment.

SimulatingZ2topological insulators with cold atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice

We propose an experimental scheme to simulate and detect the properties of time-reversal invariant topological insulators, using cold atoms trapped in one-dimensional bichromatic optical lattices. This system is described by a one-dimensional Aubry-Andre model with an additional SU(2) gauge structure, which captures the essential properties of a two-dimensional Z2 topological insulator. We demonstrate that topologically protected edge states, with opposite spin orientations, can be pumped across the lattice by sweeping a laser phase adiabatically. This process constitutes an elegant way to transfer topologically protected quantum states in a highly controllable environment. We discuss how density measurements could provide clear signatures of the topological phases emanating from our one-dimensional system.