Synthetic Dimensions and Spin-Orbit Coupling with an Optical Clock Transition

Year: 2016

Authors: Livi L. F., Cappellini G., Diem M., Franchi L., Clivati C., Frittelli M., Levi F., Calonico D., Catani J., Inguscio M., Fallani L.

Autors Affiliation: LENS European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019, Italy; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019, Italy; ILP Institut für Laserphysik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, D-20355, Germany; INRIM Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, Torino, I-10135, Italy; INO-CNR Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Del CNR, Sezione di Sesto Fiorentino, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019, Italy; INFN Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019, Italy

Abstract: We demonstrate a novel way of synthesizing spin-orbit interactions in ultracold quantum gases, based on a single-photon optical clock transition coupling two long-lived electronic states of two-electron Yb173 atoms. By mapping the electronic states onto effective sites along a synthetic “electronic” dimension, we have engineered fermionic ladders with synthetic magnetic flux in an experimental configuration that has allowed us to achieve uniform fluxes on a lattice with minimal requirements and unprecedented tunability. We have detected the spin-orbit coupling with fiber-link-enhanced clock spectroscopy and directly measured the emergence of chiral edge currents, probing them as a function of the flux. These results open new directions for the investigation of topological states of matter with ultracold atomic gases.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 117 (22)      Pages from: 220401-1  to: 220401-5

KeyWords: Atomic clocks; Electronic states; Gases; Optical variables measurement; Particle beams; Quantum theory; Spinning (fibers), Edge currents; Optical clock transition; Single photons; Spin orbit interactions; Spin-orbit couplings; Topological state; Ultracold atomic gas; Ultracold quantum gas, Clocks
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.220401

Citations: 204
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