Emergent Topological Phases with Multiple Bands and Artificial Gauge Fields

Zhoutao Lei, Linhu Li

Yue-Xin Huang, Wei-Feng Zhuang, Zhen Zheng +2 more

The topological superfluids with Majorana zero modes have not yet been realized in ultracold atoms with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Here we show that these phases can be realized with an artificial gauge potential, which can be regarded as a site-dependent rotating Zeeman field. This potential breaks the inversion symmetry and plays the same role as Rashba spin-orbit coupling. In the inverted bands, this model can open a proper parameter regime for topological superfluids. Strikingly, we find that the interaction near the Fermi surface is dominated by the dispersion scattering in the same band, thus can realize topological phase with much weaker attractive interaction, as compared with the model with Rashba spin-orbit coupling. We find a large regime for the gapped topological Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov superfluids and unveil the phase diagram with mean-field theory, which should be credible in the weak interaction regime. In regarding the negligible heating effect in realizing this potential in alkaline and rare-earth atoms, our model has the potential to be the first system to realize the long-sought topological FFLO phase and the associated Majorana zero modes.

Raditya Weda Bomantara

Monika Aidelsburger

Abstract Topological many-body phases of matter exhibit remarkable electronic properties and ultracold atoms in optical lattices constitute promising candidates to study them in a well-controlled environment. In two-dimensional (2D) electron gases topological phases may emerge in the presence of strong magnetic fields. This situation is not directly applicable to cold atoms because they are charge neutral. Therefore, novel experimental techniques have been developed to engineer novel lattice systems, whose Hamiltonian is formally equivalent to the one of charged particles in magnetic fields. In this Tutorial, we introduce a paradigmatic topological lattice model, the Hofstadter model, and explain how it can be implemented with ultracold atoms using laser-assisted tunneling. The technique is based on imprinting phases on the tunneling matrix elements using additional laser beams. These phases are reminiscent of Aharonov–Bohm phases and can be interpreted as a magnetic flux piercing the lattice unit cell. We present experimental results on the cyclotron-like dynamics of neutral atoms in isolated four-site square plaquettes and discuss the first measurement of a 2D topological invariant, the Chern number, in artificially generated Hofstadter bands. The work presented in this Tutorial was one of the four shortlisted finalists of the 2016 DPG SAMOP dissertation prize.

Congjun Wu, Yi Li, Xiang-Fa Zhou

Jean Dalibard

Simulating magnetic effects with cold gases of neutral atoms is a challenge. Since these atoms have no charge, one needs to create artificial gauge fields by taking advantage of the geometric phases that can result for instance from atom-light interaction. We review here some schemes that lead to the desired Hamiltonians, either in a bulk geometry or in a lattice configuration. We also detail the relations between some general concepts of magnetism, such as gauge invariance, Landau levels, topological bands, and the features that can be generated in cold atoms setups.