We explore the effect of disorder on a few-boson system in a finite one-dimensional quasiperiodic potential covering the full interaction ranging from uncorrelated to strongly correlated particles. We apply numerically exact multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree for bosons to obtain the few-body emergent states in a finite lattice for both commensurate and incommensurate filling factors. The detailed characterization is done by the measures of one- and two-body correlations, fragmentation, order parameter. For commensurate filling, we trace the conventional fingerprints of disorder induced localization in the weakly interacting limit, however we observe robustness of fragmented and strongly correlated Mott in the disordered lattice. For filling factor smaller than one, we observe existing delocalization fraction of particles interplay in a complex way. For strongly interacting limit, the introduced disorder drags the fragmented superfluid of primary lattice to Mott localization. For filling factor larger than one in the primary lattice, the extra delocalization always resides on commensurate background of Mott-insulator. We observe beyond Bose-Hubbard physics in the fermionization limit when the pairing bosons fragment into two orbitals -- Mott dimerization happens. The introduced disorder first relocates the dimers, then strong disorder starts to interfere with the background Mott correlation. These findings unlock a rich landscape of unexplored localization process in the quasiperiodic potentials and pave the way for engineering exotic quantum many-body states with ultracold atoms.
We explore the effect of disorder on a few-boson system in a finite one-dimensional quasiperiodic potential covering the full interaction ranging from uncorrelated to strongly correlated particles. We apply numerically exact multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree for bosons to obtain the few-body emergent states in a finite lattice for both commensurate and incommensurate filling factors. The detailed characterization is done by the measures of one- and two-body correlations, fragmentation, order parameter. For commensurate filling, we trace the conventional fingerprints of disorder induced localization in the weakly interacting limit, however we observe robustness of fragmented and strongly correlated Mott in the disordered lattice. For filling factor smaller than one, we observe existing delocalization fraction of particles interplay in a complex way. For strongly interacting limit, the introduced disorder drags the fragmented superfluid of primary lattice to Mott localization. For filling factor larger than one in the primary lattice, the extra delocalization always resides on commensurate background of Mott-insulator. We observe beyond Bose-Hubbard physics in the fermionization limit when the pairing bosons fragment into two orbitals -- Mott dimerization happens. The introduced disorder first relocates the dimers, then strong disorder starts to interfere with the background Mott correlation. These findings unlock a rich landscape of unexplored localization process in the quasiperiodic potentials and pave the way for engineering exotic quantum many-body states with ultracold atoms.
We present numerically exact non-equilibrium dynamics of a one-dimensional Bose gas in quasi-periodic lattice that plays an intermediate role between the long-ranged order and truly disordered systems exhibiting unusual correlated phases. Precision control over lattice depth, interaction strength and filling factor enables the exploration of various correlated phases in a finite periodic lattice. We investigate the system dynamics when the secondary incommensurate lattice is abruptly switched on. To solve the many-body Schroedinger equation, we employ the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method for bosons (MCTDHB). The many-body dynamics are analyzed through distinct measures of the Glauber correlation functions and dynamical fragmentation. Our study reveals four distinct scenarios of localization process in the non-equilibrium dynamics. Weakly interacting non-fragmented superfluid of incommensurate filling in the primary lattice exhibits collapse-revival dynamics of localization. In contrast, a fragmented superfluid with commensurate filling exhibits dynamical Mott localization. A strongly correlated, fully fragmented Mott state shows a subtle competition with localization introduced by the secondary lattice that merely melts the Mott correlations. Interestingly, in the fermionized Mott regime, where the density in each well is fragmented, the intra-dimer correlations exhibit unexpected robustness. These findings provide new insights into many-body correlation dynamics and novel localization mechanisms in quasi-periodic lattices, paving the way for engineering exotic quantum behaviors in ultracold atomic systems.
We investigate few-boson systems in finite one-dimensional multiwell traps covering the full interaction crossover from uncorrelated to fermionized particles. Our treatment of the ground-state properties is based on the numerically exact multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method. For commensurate filling, we trace the fingerprints of localization as the interaction strength increases, in several observables like reduced-density matrices, fluctuations, and momentum distribution. For a filling factor larger than 1 we observe on-site repulsion effects in the densities and fragmentation of particles beyond the validity of the Bose-Hubbard model upon approaching the Tonks-Girardeau limit. The presence of an incommensurate fraction of particles induces incomplete localization and spatial modulations of the density profiles, taking into account the finite size of the system.
We explore the consequences of disorder on phase coherence in the Mott insulator phases in an optical lattice. Few bosons with contact interaction in small optical lattice can feature varieties of insulating phases---weakly interacting Mott in deep lattice, maximally fragmented and strongly interacting Mott in intermediate lattice, weak Mott with double filling and intrawell coherence, fermionized Mott with strong intrawell coherence. Utilization of the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method for bosons to solve the many-boson Schr\"odinger equation, facilitates to understand the microscopic effect of disorder on the different kinds of Mott phases in the primary lattice. The many-body properties are analyzed by distinct measures of the reduced one-body density in real and momentum space, fragmentation, order parameter, variance of spatial single-shot measurements, compressibility, and the Glauber normalized correlation functions. We find very complex competition of localization due to disorder and Mott correlation. We observe distinct response of four different Mott phases in the disordered lattice. When the weakly interacting Mott exhibits the Bose glass phase, the strongly correlated and fully fragmented Mott exhibits leakage, melting and central localization. In contrast, weak Mott with double filling which is a spatially separated dimer in each site, exhibits only some dissociation of intrawell coherence and assist in the development of interwell coherence in the presence of strong disorder. For the fermionized Mott, when the density in each well is fragmented, strong disorder interferes with the intrawell correlation and the characteristic dip in each site starts to disappear leading to simple Mott localization with a pair of bosons.
One of the most important issues in disordered systems is the interplay of the disorder and repulsive interactions. Several recent experimental advances on this topic have been made with ultracold atoms, in particular the observation of Anderson localization and the realization of the disordered Bose–Hubbard model. There are, however, still questions as to how to differentiate the complex insulating phases resulting from this interplay, and how to measure the size of the superfluid fragments that these phases entail. It has been suggested that the correlation function of such a system can give new insights, but so far very little experimental investigation has been performed. Here, we show the first experimental analysis of the correlation function for a weakly interacting, bosonic system in a quasiperiodic lattice. We observe an increase in the correlation length as well as a change in the shape of the correlation function in the delocalization crossover from Anderson glass to coherent, extended state. In between, the experiment indicates the formation of progressively larger coherent fragments, consistent with a fragmented BEC, or Bose glass.
One of the most important issues in disordered systems is the interplay of the disorder and repulsive interactions. Several recent experimental advances on this topic have been made with ultracold atoms, in particular the observation of Anderson localization and the realization of the disordered Bose–Hubbard model. There are, however, still questions as to how to differentiate the complex insulating phases resulting from this interplay, and how to measure the size of the superfluid fragments that these phases entail. It has been suggested that the correlation function of such a system can give new insights, but so far very little experimental investigation has been performed. Here, we show the first experimental analysis of the correlation function for a weakly interacting, bosonic system in a quasiperiodic lattice. We observe an increase in the correlation length as well as a change in the shape of the correlation function in the delocalization crossover from Anderson glass to coherent, extended state. In between, the experiment indicates the formation of progressively larger coherent fragments, consistent with a fragmented BEC, or Bose glass.
Disorder or quasidisorder is known to favor localization in many-body Bose systems. Here, in contrast, we demonstrate an anomalous delocalization effect induced by incommensurability in quasiperiodic lattices. Loading ultracold atoms in two shallow periodic lattices with equal amplitude and either equal or incommensurate spatial periods, we show the onset of a Mott transition not only in the periodic case but also in the quasiperiodic case. Switching from periodic to quasiperiodic potential with the same amplitude, we find that the Mott insulator turns into a delocalized superfluid. Our experimental results agree with quantum Monte Carlo calculations, showing this anomalous delocalization induced by the interplay between the disorder and interaction.