Mean-field approximation for a Bose–Hubbard dimer with complex interaction strength

Abstract

In the limit of large particle numbers and low densities systems of cold atoms can be effectively described as macroscopic single-particle systems in a mean-field approximation. In the case of a Bose–Hubbard system, modelling bosons on a discrete lattice with on-site interactions, this yields a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation of Gross–Pitaevskii type. It has been recently shown that the correspondence between the Gross–Pitaevskii equation and the Bose–Hubbard system breaks down for complex extensions. In particular, for a Bose–Hubbard dimer with complex on-site energy the mean-field approximation yields a generalized complex nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Conversely, a Gross–Pitaevskii equation with complex on-site energies arises as the mean-field approximation of many-particle Lindblad dynamics rather than a complex extension of the Bose–Hubbard system. Here we address the question of how the mean-field description is modified in the presence of a complex-valued particle interaction term for a Bose–Hubbard dimer. We derive the mean-field equations of motion leading to nonlinear dissipative Bloch dynamics, related to a nontrivial complex generalization of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The resulting dynamics are analysed in detail. It is shown that depending on the parameter values there can be up to six stationary states, and for small values of the interaction strength there are limit cycles. Furthermore, we show how a Gross–Pitaevskii equation with a complex interaction term can be derived as the mean-field approximation of a Bose–Hubbard dimer with an additional Lindblad term modelling two-particle losses.