Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Chinese Physics B

SU(3) spin-orbit coupled fermions in an optical lattice

Xiaofan Zhou, Gang Chen, Suo-Tang Jia

Published Jul 7, 2021• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We propose a scheme to realize the SU(3) spin–orbit coupled three-component fermions in an one-dimensional optical lattice. The topological properties of the single-particle Hamiltonian are studied by calculating the Berry phase, winding number and edge state. We also investigate the effects of the interaction on the ground-state topology of the system, and characterize the interaction-induced topological phase transitions, using a state-of-the-art density-matrix renormalization-group numerical method. Finally, we show the typical features of the emerging quantum phases, and map out the many-body phase diagram between the interaction and the Zeeman field. Our results establish a way for exploring novel quantum physics induced by the SOC with SU(N) symmetry.

DOI
10.1088/1674-1056/ac11dc

Related papers

Phase diagram and topological superfluid state of spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas with attractive interactions in a one-dimensional optical lattice

Haiping Hu, Cheng Chen, Yucheng Wang +2 more

Based on density matrix renormalization group method, we investigate the spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas with attractive interactions in one-dimensional optical lattice and present a complete phase diagram for a quarter-filling system with intermediate strong interactions. We unveil the exotic pairings induced by spin-orbit couplings and the phase transitions between different pairing states, and further demonstrate the existence of the long-sought topological superfluid state at moderate magnetic field and spin-orbit coupling strength. For the particle conserved system, this topological superfluid state can be fixed by its gapless single particle excitation, Luttinger parameter and non-trivial boundary effect. Our study removes out the widespread doubt on the existence of topological superfluid in one dimension and paves the way for simulating topological superfluid states in cold atom settings.

arXiv:1511.01762•Nov 5, 2015•0 citations

Eigenspectrum, Chern numbers and phase diagrams of ultracold color-orbit-coupled SU(3) fermions in optical lattices

Man Hon Yau, C. A. R. Sá de Melo

We study ultracold color fermions with three internal states, red, green, and blue, with $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ symmetry in optical lattices, when color-orbit coupling and color-flip fields are present. This system corresponds to a generalization of two internal state fermions with $\mathrm{SU}(2)$ symmetry in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and spin-flipping Zeeman fields. We investigate the eigenspectrum and Chern numbers to describe different topological phases that emerge in the phase diagrams of color-orbit coupled fermions in optical lattices. We obtain the phases as a function of artificial magnetic, color-orbit, and color-flip fields that can be independently controlled. For fixed artificial magnetic flux ratio, we identify topological quantum phases and phase transitions in the phase diagrams of chemical potential versus color-flip fields or color-orbit coupling, where the chirality and number of midgap edge states changes. The topologically nontrivial phases are classified in three groups: The first group has total nonzero chirality and exhibits only the quantum charge Hall effect; the second group has total nonzero chirality and exhibits both quantum charge and quantum color Hall effects; and the third group has total zero chirality but exhibits the quantum color Hall effect. These phases are generalizations of the quantum Hall and quantum spin Hall phases for charged spin-$1/2$ fermions. Lastly, we also describe the color density of states and a staircase structure in the total and color filling factors versus chemical potential for fixed color-orbit coupling, color-flip field, and magnetic flux ratio. We show the existence of incompressible states at rational filling factors precisely given by a gap labelling theorem that relates the filling factors to the magnetic flux ratio and topological quantum numbers.

arXiv:2011.07139•Physical Review A•Apr 1, 2021•5 citations

SU(3) Spin-Orbit Coupling in Ultracold Atoms

Ryan Barnett, G. R. Boyd, Victor M. Galitski

Motivated by the recent experimental success in realizing synthetic spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atomic systems, we consider N -component atoms coupled to a non-Abelian SU(N) gauge field. More specifically, we focus on the case, referred to here as “SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling,” where the internal states of three-component atoms are coupled to their momenta via a matrix structure that involves the Gell-Mann matrices (in contrast to the Pauli matrices in conventional SU(2) spin-orbitcoupled systems). It is shown that the SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling gives rise to qualitatively different phenomena and in particular we find that even a homogeneous SU(3) field on a simple square lattice enables a topologically non-trivial state to exist, while such SU(2) systems always have trivial topology. In deriving this result, we first establish an equivalence between the Hofstadter model with a 1/N Abelian flux per plaquette and a homogeneous SU(N) non-Abelian model. The former is known to have a topological spectrum for N > 2, which is thus inherited by the latter. It is explicitly verified by an exact calculation for N = 3, where we develop and use a new algebraic method to calculate topological indices in the SU(3) case. Finally, we consider a strip geometry and establish the existence of three gapless edge states – the hallmark feature of such an SU(3) topological insulator.

•Jul 6, 2012•0 citations

SU(3) Spin-Orbit Coupling in Systems of Ultracold Atoms

Ryan Barnett, G. R. Boyd, Victor M. Galitski

Motivated by the recent experimental success in realizing synthetic spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atomic systems, we consider N-component atoms coupled to a non-Abelian SU(N) gauge field. More specifically, we focus on the case, referred to here as "SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling," where the internal states of three-component atoms are coupled to their momenta via a matrix structure that involves the Gell-Mann matrices (in contrast to the Pauli matrices in conventional SU(2) spin-orbit-coupled systems). It is shown that the SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling gives rise to qualitatively different phenomena and in particular we find that even a homogeneous SU(3) field on a simple square lattice enables a topologically nontrivial state to exist, while such SU(2) systems always have trivial topology. In deriving this result, we first establish an equivalence between the Hofstadter model with a 1/N Abelian flux per plaquette and a homogeneous SU(N) non-Abelian model. The former is known to have a topological spectrum for N>2, which is thus inherited by the latter. It is explicitly verified by an exact calculation for N=3, where we develop and use a new algebraic method to calculate topological indices in the SU(3) case. Finally, we consider a strip geometry and establish the existence of three gapless edge states-the hallmark feature of such an SU(3) topological insulator.

arXiv:1207.1728•Physical Review Letters•Dec 5, 2012•75 citations

Spin-orbit coupling induced unconventional pairings in a one-dimensional lattice

J.-Q. Liang, Xiaofan Zhou, Pak Hong Chui +5 more

Pairings are the heart for exploring novel superfluid physics of degenerate fermi gases. In the presence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC), some exotic pairings, including the triplet $p$-wave pairing, have been predicted, which paves a new way to search topological superfluids and associated Majorana fermions. In this work, we reveal unconventional pairings induced by SOC in a one-dimensional optical lattice, using the exact density-matrix renormalization group. In the weak SOC, we find the interband Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) and intraband Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) pairings may coexist, when both bands are partially occupied. This interesting coexistence can lead to a new quantum state, called the FFLO-BCS phase, which exhibits a unique three-peak structure in pairing momentum distribution. However, in the intermediate and strong SOCs, the intraband BCS pairing dominates in the whole parameter regime. These results shed great light on the realization of topological superfluids in the spin-orbit coupled lattice.

•Apr 11, 2014•2 citations

Orbital optical Raman lattice

Zhihao Huang, Kou-Han Ma, Bao‐Zong Wang +2 more

Spin and orbital are two basic degrees of freedom that play significant roles in exploring exotic quantum phases in optical lattices with synthetic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and high orbital bands, respectively. Here, we combine these two crucial ingredients for the first time by proposing a completely new orbital optical Raman lattice scheme to explore exotic high-orbital Bose condensates with Raman-induced SOC in a square lattice. We find that both the SOC and p-orbital interactions influence the condensed state of bosons. Their interplay results in two novel high-orbital many-body quantum phases: the uniform angular momentum superfluid phase, which exhibits a global topological chiral orbital current characterized by a uniform Chern number, and the two-dimensional topological spin-orbital supersolid phase, which is characterized by the spin and orbital angular momentum density wave patterns and topological excitations with opposite Chern numbers, respectively protecting the chiral and antichiral edge modes in the neighboring supersolid clusters. Our scheme may open a new avenue for exploring exotic SOC and high-orbital physics in optical lattices, and is expected to advance the experimental realization of novel supersolids in higher dimensions.

arXiv:2412.04009•Physical Review A•Dec 23, 2025•0 citations
We propose a scheme to realize the SU(3) spin–orbit coupled three-component fermions in an one-dimensional optical lattice. The topological properties of the single-particle Hamiltonian are studied by calculating the Berry phase, winding number and edge state. We also investigate the effects of the interaction on the ground-state topology of the system, and characterize the interaction-induced topological phase transitions, using a state-of-the-art density-matrix renormalization-group numerical method. Finally, we show the typical features of the emerging quantum phases, and map out the many-body phase diagram between the interaction and the Zeeman field. Our results establish a way for exploring novel quantum physics induced by the SOC with SU(N) symmetry.
Based on density matrix renormalization group method, we investigate the spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas with attractive interactions in one-dimensional optical lattice and present a complete phase diagram for a quarter-filling system with intermediate strong interactions. We unveil the exotic pairings induced by spin-orbit couplings and the phase transitions between different pairing states, and further demonstrate the existence of the long-sought topological superfluid state at moderate magnetic field and spin-orbit coupling strength. For the particle conserved system, this topological superfluid state can be fixed by its gapless single particle excitation, Luttinger parameter and non-trivial boundary effect. Our study removes out the widespread doubt on the existence of topological superfluid in one dimension and paves the way for simulating topological superfluid states in cold atom settings.
We study ultracold color fermions with three internal states, red, green, and blue, with SU(3)\mathrm{SU}(3)SU(3) symmetry in optical lattices, when color-orbit coupling and color-flip fields are present. This system corresponds to a generalization of two internal state fermions with SU(2)\mathrm{SU}(2)SU(2) symmetry in the presence of spin-orbit coupling and spin-flipping Zeeman fields. We investigate the eigenspectrum and Chern numbers to describe different topological phases that emerge in the phase diagrams of color-orbit coupled fermions in optical lattices. We obtain the phases as a function of artificial magnetic, color-orbit, and color-flip fields that can be independently controlled. For fixed artificial magnetic flux ratio, we identify topological quantum phases and phase transitions in the phase diagrams of chemical potential versus color-flip fields or color-orbit coupling, where the chirality and number of midgap edge states changes. The topologically nontrivial phases are classified in three groups: The first group has total nonzero chirality and exhibits only the quantum charge Hall effect; the second group has total nonzero chirality and exhibits both quantum charge and quantum color Hall effects; and the third group has total zero chirality but exhibits the quantum color Hall effect. These phases are generalizations of the quantum Hall and quantum spin Hall phases for charged spin-1/21/21/2 fermions. Lastly, we also describe the color density of states and a staircase structure in the total and color filling factors versus chemical potential for fixed color-orbit coupling, color-flip field, and magnetic flux ratio. We show the existence of incompressible states at rational filling factors precisely given by a gap labelling theorem that relates the filling factors to the magnetic flux ratio and topological quantum numbers.
Motivated by the recent experimental success in realizing synthetic spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atomic systems, we consider N -component atoms coupled to a non-Abelian SU(N) gauge field. More specifically, we focus on the case, referred to here as “SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling,” where the internal states of three-component atoms are coupled to their momenta via a matrix structure that involves the Gell-Mann matrices (in contrast to the Pauli matrices in conventional SU(2) spin-orbitcoupled systems). It is shown that the SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling gives rise to qualitatively different phenomena and in particular we find that even a homogeneous SU(3) field on a simple square lattice enables a topologically non-trivial state to exist, while such SU(2) systems always have trivial topology. In deriving this result, we first establish an equivalence between the Hofstadter model with a 1/N Abelian flux per plaquette and a homogeneous SU(N) non-Abelian model. The former is known to have a topological spectrum for N > 2, which is thus inherited by the latter. It is explicitly verified by an exact calculation for N = 3, where we develop and use a new algebraic method to calculate topological indices in the SU(3) case. Finally, we consider a strip geometry and establish the existence of three gapless edge states – the hallmark feature of such an SU(3) topological insulator.
Motivated by the recent experimental success in realizing synthetic spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atomic systems, we consider N-component atoms coupled to a non-Abelian SU(N) gauge field. More specifically, we focus on the case, referred to here as "SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling," where the internal states of three-component atoms are coupled to their momenta via a matrix structure that involves the Gell-Mann matrices (in contrast to the Pauli matrices in conventional SU(2) spin-orbit-coupled systems). It is shown that the SU(3) spin-orbit-coupling gives rise to qualitatively different phenomena and in particular we find that even a homogeneous SU(3) field on a simple square lattice enables a topologically nontrivial state to exist, while such SU(2) systems always have trivial topology. In deriving this result, we first establish an equivalence between the Hofstadter model with a 1/N Abelian flux per plaquette and a homogeneous SU(N) non-Abelian model. The former is known to have a topological spectrum for N>2, which is thus inherited by the latter. It is explicitly verified by an exact calculation for N=3, where we develop and use a new algebraic method to calculate topological indices in the SU(3) case. Finally, we consider a strip geometry and establish the existence of three gapless edge states-the hallmark feature of such an SU(3) topological insulator.
Pairings are the heart for exploring novel superfluid physics of degenerate fermi gases. In the presence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC), some exotic pairings, including the triplet ppp-wave pairing, have been predicted, which paves a new way to search topological superfluids and associated Majorana fermions. In this work, we reveal unconventional pairings induced by SOC in a one-dimensional optical lattice, using the exact density-matrix renormalization group. In the weak SOC, we find the interband Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) and intraband Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) pairings may coexist, when both bands are partially occupied. This interesting coexistence can lead to a new quantum state, called the FFLO-BCS phase, which exhibits a unique three-peak structure in pairing momentum distribution. However, in the intermediate and strong SOCs, the intraband BCS pairing dominates in the whole parameter regime. These results shed great light on the realization of topological superfluids in the spin-orbit coupled lattice.
Spin and orbital are two basic degrees of freedom that play significant roles in exploring exotic quantum phases in optical lattices with synthetic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and high orbital bands, respectively. Here, we combine these two crucial ingredients for the first time by proposing a completely new orbital optical Raman lattice scheme to explore exotic high-orbital Bose condensates with Raman-induced SOC in a square lattice. We find that both the SOC and p-orbital interactions influence the condensed state of bosons. Their interplay results in two novel high-orbital many-body quantum phases: the uniform angular momentum superfluid phase, which exhibits a global topological chiral orbital current characterized by a uniform Chern number, and the two-dimensional topological spin-orbital supersolid phase, which is characterized by the spin and orbital angular momentum density wave patterns and topological excitations with opposite Chern numbers, respectively protecting the chiral and antichiral edge modes in the neighboring supersolid clusters. Our scheme may open a new avenue for exploring exotic SOC and high-orbital physics in optical lattices, and is expected to advance the experimental realization of novel supersolids in higher dimensions.