Quantum phases and stability of Bose–Hubbard triangular ladder with magnetic field
Yue Jian, J. R. Luo, Zi-Fa Yu +3 more
Abstract We investigate the ground state properties of interacting bosons on a triangular ladder subject to an artificial magnetic field. By means of the mean-field approximation, rich phases are revealed in the limit of weak interaction and large bosons occupation per site, including the Meissner superfluid, vortex superfluid, biased chiral superfluid (C-SF), C-SF and insulating phases. The quantum phases can be precisely identified and the underlying physics of phase transitions can be clarified by utilizing order parameters based on the atomic density, the effective rung current, and the current asymmetry ratio. Meanwhile, the phase transition of the system can be effectively controlled by adjusting the rung-to-leg coupling ratio, the magnetic flux and the atomic interaction. Furthermore, using Bogoliubov theory, we have mapped the stability phase diagram across all parameters, and clarified the interdependence between superfluidity and the dispersion relation. The excitation spectrum, which effectively describes the system’s energetic stability, is governed by the rung-to-leg coupling ratio, the magnetic flux, and the atomic interaction. Numerical simulations validate the dynamical instability of the system. This work offers a theoretical foundation for identifying new quantum phases exhibited by ultracold atoms in optical lattices and new experimental approaches for achieving system superfluidity.
New Journal of Physics•Jun 1, 2026•0 citations