The order parameter of a quantum-coherent many-body system can include a phase degree of freedom, which, in the presence of an electromagnetic field, depends on the choice of gauge. Because of the relationship between the phase gradient and the velocity, …
Gauge matters: observing the vortex-nucleation transition in a Bose condensate Read more →
Dan defended this thesis titled “Engineered potentials in ultracold Bose-Einstein condensates” today. Way to go!
Spin-orbit coupling is an essential ingredient in topological materials, conventional and quantum-gas-based alike. Engineered spin-orbit coupling in ultracold-atom systems—unique in their experimental control and measurement opportunities—provides a major opportunity to investigate and understand topological phenomena. Here we experimentally demonstrate and …
Tunable Spin-Orbit Coupling via Strong Driving in Ultracold-Atom Systems Read more →
We theoretically explore atomic Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) subject to position-dependent spin–orbit coupling (SOC). This SOC can be produced by cyclically laser coupling four internal atomic ground (or metastable) states in an environment where the detuning from resonance depends on position. …
Position-dependent spin–orbit coupling for ultracold atoms Read more →
Gauge fields are central in our modern understanding of physics at all scales. At the highest energy scales known, the microscopic universe is governed by particles interacting with each other through the exchange of gauge bosons. At the largest length …
The ICAP 2014 Summer School held at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA was a great success with about 100 students attending the 18 lectures given by our fantastic speakers. Follow this link for lecture notes and …
Karina and Ian’s book chapter “The Mott Transition in a Bose Gas Measured Through Time of Flight” is published on page 145 of the “Annual Reviews of Cold atoms and Molecules” volume 2. Wow, it takes a long time for …
Karina and Ian’s book chapter on Mott/Superfluid physics published Read more →
Nathan Goldman et al‘s result describing techniques for measuring topology in a laser-coupled honeycomb lattice has been featured as a “Highlight of 2013” by The New Journal of Physics! This rocks! Highlights page: http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/page/highlights-of-2013 Article: http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/15/1/013025/article
Our new MURI team — a collaborative effort connecting MIT, Harvard, U. Mass. Amherst, Strathclyde, Berkeley, Caltech, JILA and JQI — kicked off our program on the MIT campus. In this exciting research program, our team is focusing on three …
New Quantum Phases of Matter MURI kickoff meeting Read more →
We explore the time evolution of two-component Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), quasi one dimensional with respect to their spinor dynamics, following a quench from one component BECs with a U(1) order parameter into two-component condensates with a U(1)xZ2 order parameter. In …
Quenched binary Bose-Einstein condensates: Spin-domain formation and coarsening Read more →