An optical lattice of flux

Ian B. Spielman

Hoi-Yin Hui, Mengsu Chen, Sumanta Tewari +1 more

Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) define an exotic class of quantum ground states where spins are disordered down to zero temperature. We propose routes to QSLs in kagome optical lattices using applied flux. An optical flux lattice can be applied to induce a uniform flux and chiral three-spin interactions that drive the formation of a gapped chiral spin liquid. A different approach based on recent experiments using laser-assisted tunneling and lattice tilt implements a staggered flux pattern which can drive a gapless spin liquid with symmetry protected nodal lines. Our proposals, therefore, establish kagome optical lattices with effective flux as a powerful platform for exploration of QSLs.

Markus Greiner, Simon Fölling

Zhang, Xing-Hai, Wenjun Fan, Jinwei Shi +1 more

In this paper we give a proposal to realize optical lattices with manipulated dislocations and study the physics of ultracold quantum gas on a two-dimensional (2D) optical square lattice with dislocations. In particular, the dislocations may induce fractional topological flux on 2D Peierls optical lattice. These results pave new approach to study the quantum many-body systems on an optical lattice with controllable topological lattice-defects, including the dislocations, topological fluxes.

Harold J. Metcalf, P. van der Straten