Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1003.2655 · Physical Review Letters

Criticality in Trapped Atomic Systems

Lode Pollet, Nikolay V. Prokof'ev, Boris V. Svistunov

Published Jun 18, 2010• 47 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We discuss generic limits posed by the trap in atomic systems on the accurate determination of critical parameters for second-order phase transitions, from which we deduce optimal protocols to extract them. We show that under current experimental conditions the in situ density profiles are barely suitable for an accurate study of critical points in the strongly correlated regime. Contrary to recent claims, the proper analysis of time-of-fight images yields critical parameters accurately.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.104.245705

Related papers

Signature of Quantum Criticality in the Density Profiles of Cold Atom Systems

Qi Zhou, Tin-Lun Ho

In recent years, there has been considerable experimental effort using cold atoms to study strongly correlated many-body systems. One class of phenomena of particular interest is quantum critical (QC) phenomena. While prevalent in many materials, these phenomena pose notoriously difficult theoretical problems due to the vanishing of energy scales in the QC region. So far, there are no systematic ways to deduce the QC behavior of bulk systems from the data of trapped atomic gases. Here, we present a simple algorithm to use the experimental density profile to determine the T=0 phase boundary of bulk systems, as well as the scaling functions in the QC regime. We also present another scheme for removing finite-size effects of the trap. We demonstrate the validity of our schemes using exactly soluble models.

arXiv:1006.1174•Physical Review Letters•Dec 10, 2010•58 citations

Comment on “Direct Mapping of the Finite Temperature Phase Diagram of Strongly Correlated Quantum Models”

Lode Pollet, Nikolay V. Prokof'ev, Boris V. Svistunov

In their Letter, Zhou, Kato, Kawashima, and Trivedi claim that finite-temperature critical points of strongly correlated quantum models emulated by optical lattice experiments can generically be deduced from kinks in the derivative of the density profile of atoms in the trap with respect to the external potential, $κ= -dn(r)/dV(r)$. In this comment we demonstrate that the authors failed to achieve their goal: to show that under realistic experimental conditions critical densities $n_c(T,U)$ can be extracted from density profiles with controllable accuracy.

arXiv:1009.4159•Physical Review Letters•Nov 4, 2010•9 citations

Quantum criticality fromin situ density imaging

Shiang Fang, Chia-Min Chung, Ping Nang Ma +2 more

We perform large-scale quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations for strongly interacting bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice trap and confirm an excellent agreement with the benchmarking in situ density measurements by the Chicago group [N. Gemelke et al., Nature (London) 460, 995 (2009)]. We further present a general finite-temperature phase diagram for both the uniform and the trapped systems, demonstrating how the universal scaling properties near the superfluid-to-Mott insulator transition can be observed from the in situ density profile. The characteristic temperature to find such quantum criticality is estimated to be of the order of the single-particle bandwidth, which should be achievable in the present experiments. Finally, we examine the validity regime of the local fluctuation-dissipation theorem, which can be a used as a thermometry in the strongly interacting regime.

arXiv:1009.5155•Physical Review A•Mar 8, 2011•33 citations

Exploring quantum criticality based on ultracold atoms in optical lattices

Xibo Zhang, Chen-Lung Hung, Shih-Kuang Tung +2 more

Critical behavior developed near a quantum phase transition, interesting in its own right, offers exciting opportunities to explore the universality of strongly correlated systems near the ground state. Cold atoms in optical lattices, in particular, represent a paradigmatic system, for which the quantum phase transition between the superfluid and Mott insulator states can be externally induced by tuning the microscopic parameters. In this paper, we describe our approach to study quantum criticality of cesium atoms in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice based on in situ density measurements. Our research agenda involves testing critical scaling of thermodynamic observables and extracting transport properties in the quantum critical regime. We present and discuss experimental progress on both fronts. In particular, the thermodynamic measurement suggests that the equation of state near the critical point follows the predicted scaling law at low temperatures.

arXiv:1101.0284•New Journal of Physics•Apr 11, 2011•29 citations

Correlations in ultracold atomic gases

Michael Köhl, Tobias Donner, Stephan Ritter +3 more

Summary form only given. Phase transitions are among the most dramatic phenomena in nature. Minute variations in the conditions controlling a system trigger a fundamental change of its properties. In the critical regime near a second-order phase transition point the fluctuations of the order parameter are so dominant that they completely govern the behaviour of the system on all length scales. The correlation length of the ultracold gas measures the characteristic length scale of these fluctuations and diverges at the critical temperature. Using cold atomic gases, we have directly observed critical fluctuations of the order parameter near the phase transition of Bose-Einstein condensation. From the divergence of the correlation length of the order parameter versus temperature we have determined its critical exponent v. Despite our densities being ten orders of magnitude smaller and our interactions considerably weaker, we find a remarkable similarity to case of the lambda-transition of helium-4.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2007•0 citations

Quantum criticality of a one-dimensional attractive Fermi gas

Xi‐Wen Guan, Tin-Lun Ho

We obtain an analytical equation of state for one-dimensional strongly attractive Fermi gases for all parameter regimes in current experiments. From the equation of state, we derive universal scaling functions that control whole thermodynamical properties in quantum critical regimes and illustrate the physical origin of quantum criticality. It turns out that the critical properties of the system are described by those of free fermions and those of mixtures of fermions with masses $m$ and $2m$. We also show how these critical properties of bulk systems can be revealed from the density profile of trapped Fermi gases at finite temperatures and can be used to determine the $T=0$ phase boundaries without any arbitrariness.

arXiv:1010.1301•Physical Review A•Aug 9, 2011•32 citations
We discuss generic limits posed by the trap in atomic systems on the accurate determination of critical parameters for second-order phase transitions, from which we deduce optimal protocols to extract them. We show that under current experimental conditions the in situ density profiles are barely suitable for an accurate study of critical points in the strongly correlated regime. Contrary to recent claims, the proper analysis of time-of-fight images yields critical parameters accurately.
In recent years, there has been considerable experimental effort using cold atoms to study strongly correlated many-body systems. One class of phenomena of particular interest is quantum critical (QC) phenomena. While prevalent in many materials, these phenomena pose notoriously difficult theoretical problems due to the vanishing of energy scales in the QC region. So far, there are no systematic ways to deduce the QC behavior of bulk systems from the data of trapped atomic gases. Here, we present a simple algorithm to use the experimental density profile to determine the T=0 phase boundary of bulk systems, as well as the scaling functions in the QC regime. We also present another scheme for removing finite-size effects of the trap. We demonstrate the validity of our schemes using exactly soluble models.
In their Letter, Zhou, Kato, Kawashima, and Trivedi claim that finite-temperature critical points of strongly correlated quantum models emulated by optical lattice experiments can generically be deduced from kinks in the derivative of the density profile of atoms in the trap with respect to the external potential, κ=−dn(r)/dV(r)κ= -dn(r)/dV(r)κ=−dn(r)/dV(r). In this comment we demonstrate that the authors failed to achieve their goal: to show that under realistic experimental conditions critical densities nc(T,U)n_c(T,U)nc​(T,U) can be extracted from density profiles with controllable accuracy.
We perform large-scale quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations for strongly interacting bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice trap and confirm an excellent agreement with the benchmarking in situ density measurements by the Chicago group [N. Gemelke et al., Nature (London) 460, 995 (2009)]. We further present a general finite-temperature phase diagram for both the uniform and the trapped systems, demonstrating how the universal scaling properties near the superfluid-to-Mott insulator transition can be observed from the in situ density profile. The characteristic temperature to find such quantum criticality is estimated to be of the order of the single-particle bandwidth, which should be achievable in the present experiments. Finally, we examine the validity regime of the local fluctuation-dissipation theorem, which can be a used as a thermometry in the strongly interacting regime.
Critical behavior developed near a quantum phase transition, interesting in its own right, offers exciting opportunities to explore the universality of strongly correlated systems near the ground state. Cold atoms in optical lattices, in particular, represent a paradigmatic system, for which the quantum phase transition between the superfluid and Mott insulator states can be externally induced by tuning the microscopic parameters. In this paper, we describe our approach to study quantum criticality of cesium atoms in a two-dimensional (2D) lattice based on in situ density measurements. Our research agenda involves testing critical scaling of thermodynamic observables and extracting transport properties in the quantum critical regime. We present and discuss experimental progress on both fronts. In particular, the thermodynamic measurement suggests that the equation of state near the critical point follows the predicted scaling law at low temperatures.
Summary form only given. Phase transitions are among the most dramatic phenomena in nature. Minute variations in the conditions controlling a system trigger a fundamental change of its properties. In the critical regime near a second-order phase transition point the fluctuations of the order parameter are so dominant that they completely govern the behaviour of the system on all length scales. The correlation length of the ultracold gas measures the characteristic length scale of these fluctuations and diverges at the critical temperature. Using cold atomic gases, we have directly observed critical fluctuations of the order parameter near the phase transition of Bose-Einstein condensation. From the divergence of the correlation length of the order parameter versus temperature we have determined its critical exponent v. Despite our densities being ten orders of magnitude smaller and our interactions considerably weaker, we find a remarkable similarity to case of the lambda-transition of helium-4.
We obtain an analytical equation of state for one-dimensional strongly attractive Fermi gases for all parameter regimes in current experiments. From the equation of state, we derive universal scaling functions that control whole thermodynamical properties in quantum critical regimes and illustrate the physical origin of quantum criticality. It turns out that the critical properties of the system are described by those of free fermions and those of mixtures of fermions with masses mmm and 2m2m2m. We also show how these critical properties of bulk systems can be revealed from the density profile of trapped Fermi gases at finite temperatures and can be used to determine the T=0T=0T=0 phase boundaries without any arbitrariness.