Spin–orbit (SO) coupling—the interaction between a quantum particle’s spin and its momentum—is ubiquitous in physical systems. In condensed matter systems, SO coupling is crucial for the spin-Hall effect and topological insulators; it contributes to the electronic properties of materials such …
Karina’s paper [Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 110401 (2010)] featuring a fantastic measurement of the SF/MI phase transition in a 2D Bose-Hubbard system has been published in PRL. Our result is in agreement with QMC calculations with no adjustable parameters. This work …
Phases of a Two-Dimensional Bose Gas in an Optical Lattice Read more »
Ultracold atoms are an excellent system to realize important models in condensed matter physics, owing to its nearly disorder-free and tunable properties. One of the most intriguing topics is the quantum-Hall physics of 2D electronic systems in a strong magnetic …
Synthetic magnetic fields for ultracold neutral atoms Read more »
We experimentally investigate diffraction of a 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate from a one-dimensional optical lattice. We use a range of lattice periods and timescales, including those beyond the Raman-Nath limit. We compare the results to numerical solutions of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation …
We describe an apparatus for quickly and simply producing 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates. It is based on a magnetic quadrupole trap and a red-detuned optical dipole trap. We collect atoms in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and then capture the atoms in …
A technique is described by which light-induced gauge potentials allow systems of ultracold neutral atoms to behave like charged particles in a magnetic field. Here, atoms move in a uniform laser field with a spatially varying Zeeman shift and experience …
We use a two-photon dressing field to create an effective vector gauge potential for Bose-Einstein-condensed 87Rb atoms in the F=1 hyperfine ground state. These Raman-dressed states are spin and momentum superpositions, and we adiabatically load the atoms into the lowest …
Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Uniform Light-Induced Vector Potential Read more »
We realize a single-band 2D Bose-Hubbard system with Rb atoms in an optical lattice and measure the condensate fraction as a function of lattice depth, crossing from the superfluid to the Mott-insulating phase. We quantitatively identify the location of the …
Condensate Fraction in a 2D Bose Gas Measured across the Mott-Insulator Transition Read more »