Theoretical studies of possible supersolid helium 4 and Boson Systems in optical lattices

Stefan Weßel, Matthias Troyer

Tommaso Roscilde, Massimo Boninsegni

Long D. Dang

The main theme of this thesis is the interplay between superfluidity and localization, in a system of strongly correlated Bose particles. Driving this investigation is the search for yet unobserved phases of matter, such as the so-called supersolid. Using state-of-the- art, numerically exact computer simulations, we have carried out an extensive theoretical investigation of the effects of long-range interactions, inhomogeneity, disorder and frustration in a simple model of lattice Bosons. In particular, we explore the scenario of vacancy- and interstitial-based supersolid phases of hard core bosons on a square lattice, interacting repulsively via a nearest-neighbour and next-nearest neighbour potential. Secondly, in an attempt to model the physics of a layer of helium adsorbed on a corrugated substrate, an additional superlattice of the absorption sites is imposed to the system of hard core bosons, and the resulting low temperature phase diagram is studied. Finally, the possibility of actually inducing by disorder superfluidity (superglass) in a system that does not display it in the absence of disorder is demonstrated. The quantitative and qual- itative predictions at which we have arrived appear to be at least in principle testable experimentally, for example by performing measurements on ultracold atoms in optical lattices.

V. W. Scarola, S. Das Sarma

Cold atom optical lattices typically simulate zero-range Hubbard models. We discuss the theoretical possibility of using excited states of optical lattices to generate extended range Hubbard models. We find that bosons confined to higher bands of optical lattices allow for a rich phase diagram, including the supersolid phase. Using Gutzwiller, mean-field theory we establish the parameter regime necessary to maintain metastable states generated by an extended Bose-Hubbard model.

昌久 古賀, Akihisa Koga

C. Trefzger, C. Menotti, Maciej Lewenstein

The competition between tunneling and interactions in bosonic lattice models generates a whole variety of different quantum phases. While, in the presence of a single species interacting via on site interaction, the phase diagram presents only superfluid or Mott insulating phases, for long-range interactions or multiple species, exotic phases such as supersolid or pair-superfluid appear. In this Letter, we show for the first time that the coexistence of effective multiple species and long-range interactions leads to the formation of a novel pair-supersolid phase, namely, a supersolid of composites. We propose a possible implementation with dipolar bosons in a bilayer two-dimensional optical lattice.