We investigate the many-body dissipative dynamics of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice in the presence of incoherent light scattering. Deriving and solving a master equation to describe this process microscopically for many particles, we observe contrasting behavior in terms of the robustness against this type of heating for different many-body states. In particular, we find that the magnetic correlations exhibited by a two-component gas in the Mott insulating phase should be particularly robust against decoherence from light scattering, because the decoherence in the lowest band is suppressed by a larger factor than the time scales for effective superexchange interactions that drive coherent dynamics. Furthermore, the derived formalism naturally generalizes to analogous states with $\text{SU}(N)$ symmetry. In contrast, for typical atomic and laser parameters, two-particle correlation functions describing bound dimers for strong attractive interactions exhibit superradiant effects due to the indistinguishability of off-resonant photons scattered by atoms in different internal states. This leads to rapid decay of correlations describing off-diagonal long-range order for these states. Our predictions should be directly measurable in ongoing experiments, providing a basis for characterizing and controlling heating processes in quantum simulation with fermions.We investigate the many-body dissipative dynamics of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice in the presence of incoherent light scattering. Deriving and solving a master equation to describe this process microscopically for many particles, we observe contrasting behavior in terms of the robustness against this type of heating for different many-body states. In particular, we find that the magnetic correlations exhibited by a two-component gas in the Mott insulating phase should be particularly robust against decoherence from light scattering, because the decoherence in the lowest band is suppressed by a larger factor than the time scales for effective superexchange interactions that drive coherent dynamics. Furthermore, the derived formalism naturally generalizes to analogous states with $\text{SU}(N)$ symmetry. In contrast, for typical atomic and laser parameters, two-particle correlation functions describing bound dimers for strong attractive interactions exhibit superradiant effects due to the indistinguishability of off-resonant photons scattered by atoms in different internal states. This leads to rapid decay of correlations describing off-diagonal long-range order for these states. Our predictions should be directly measurable in ongoing experiments, providing a basis for characterizing and controlling heating processes in quantum simulation with fermions.

arXiv:1405.7336Physical Review AAug 13, 201439 citations

Adiabatic cooling of fermions in an optical lattice

P. B. Blakie, A. Bezett

The entropy-temperature curves are calculated for noninteracting fermions in a three-dimensional optical lattice. These curves facilitate understanding of how adiabatic changes in the lattice depth affect the temperature, and we demonstrate regimes in which the atomic sample can be significantly heated or cooled. When the Fermi energy of the system is near the location of a band gap, the cooling regimes disappear for all temperatures and the system can be heated by only lattice loading. For samples with greater than one fermion per site, we find that lattice loading can lead to a large increase in the degeneracy of the system. We study the scaling properties of the system in the degenerate regimes and assess the effects of nonadiabatic loading.The entropy-temperature curves are calculated for noninteracting fermions in a three-dimensional optical lattice. These curves facilitate understanding of how adiabatic changes in the lattice depth affect the temperature, and we demonstrate regimes in which the atomic sample can be significantly heated or cooled. When the Fermi energy of the system is near the location of a band gap, the cooling regimes disappear for all temperatures and the system can be heated by only lattice loading. For samples with greater than one fermion per site, we find that lattice loading can lead to a large increase in the degeneracy of the system. We study the scaling properties of the system in the degenerate regimes and assess the effects of nonadiabatic loading.

arXiv:cond-mat/0410140Physical Review AMar 11, 200533 citations

Interacting Fermions in Optical Lattices

Tilman Esslinger

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 19, 20050 citations

A Closer Look at Fermions in Optical Lattices

Daniel Pertot, Luke Miller, Eugenio Cocchi +5 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 4, 20140 citations

\text{SU}(N)

symmetry. In contrast, for typical atomic and laser parameters, two-particle correlation functions describing bound dimers for strong attractive interactions exhibit superradiant effects due to the indistinguishability of off-resonant photons scattered by atoms in different internal states. This leads to rapid decay of correlations describing off-diagonal long-range order for these states. Our predictions should be directly measurable in ongoing experiments, providing a basis for characterizing and controlling heating processes in quantum simulation with fermions.