Topological Fractional Pumping with Alkaline-Earth-Like Atoms in Synthetic Lattices

Year: 2017

Authors: Taddia L., Cornfeld E., Rossini D., Mazza L., Sela E., Fazio R.

Autors Affiliation: ‎Scuola Normale Super Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy;‎ CNR, Ist Nazl Ott, Sede Secondaria Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;‎ Tel Aviv Univ, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Sch Phys & Astron, IL-69978 Tel Aviv, Israel;‎ Scuola Normale Super Pisa, NEST, I-56126 Pisa, Italy;‎ CNR, Ist Nanosci, I-56126 Pisa, Italy;‎ Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Fis, Largo Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy;‎ INFN, Largo Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; PSL Res Univ, Ecole Normale Super, Dept Phys, CNRS, 24 Rue Lhomond, F-75005 Paris, France;‎ Abdus Salaam Int Ctr Theoret Phys, Str Costiera 11, I-34151 Trieste, Italy

Abstract: Alkaline-earth(-like) atoms, trapped in optical lattices and in the presence of an external gauge field, can form insulating states at given fractional fillings. We will show that, by exploiting these properties, it is possible to realize a topological fractional pump. Our analysis is based on a many-body adiabatic expansion, on simulations with time-dependent matrix product states, and, for a specific form of atom-atom interaction, on an exactly solvable model of fractional pump. The numerical simulations allow us to consider a realistic setup amenable of an experimental realization. As a further consequence, the measure of the center-of-mass shift of the atomic cloud would constitute the first measurement of a many-body Chern number in a cold-atom experiment.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 118 (23)      Pages from: 230402-1  to: 23042-6

KeyWords: BLOCH BAND; FERMIONS; INSULATORS; INVARIANT; MAGNETISM; LIQUIDS; STATES; GASES
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.230402

Citations: 63
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