$p$ -orbital self-organization of ultracold atoms coupled to optical cavities$p$-orbital self-organization of ultracold atoms coupled to optical cavities

Hui Ru Tan, Pengfei Zhang, Jianmin Yuan +1 more

Atoms coupled to optical cavities provide a novel platform for understanding high-orbital exotic phenomena in strongly correlated materials. In this study, we investigate strongly correlated ultracold bosonic gases that are coupled to two orthogonally arranged optical cavities and driven by a blue-detuned running-wave laser field. Our results demonstrate that atoms initially in the $s$ -orbital state can be scattered into $p_x$ - and $p_y$ -orbital states in either a symmetric or asymmetric manner, depending on the frequencies of the two cavities. For the symmetric configuration, we observe that atoms are scattered into the $p_x$ - and $p_y$ -orbitals equally. In the asymmetric case, photons emitted into one cavity mode suppress the scattering into the orthogonal mode. Notably, the coupling of atoms with multiple cavity modes leads to the emergence of high-orbital self-organized phases, accompanied by orbital-density waves that break different symmetries.Atoms coupled to optical cavities provide a novel platform for understanding high-orbital exotic phenomena in strongly correlated materials. In this study, we investigate strongly correlated ultracold bosonic gases that are coupled to two orthogonally arranged optical cavities and driven by a blue-detuned running-wave laser field. Our results demonstrate that atoms initially in the $s$-orbital state can be scattered into $p_x$- and $p_y$-orbital states in either a symmetric or asymmetric manner, depending on the frequencies of the two cavities. For the symmetric configuration, we observe that atoms are scattered into the $p_x$- and $p_y$-orbitals equally. In the asymmetric case, photons emitted into one cavity mode suppress the scattering into the orthogonal mode. Notably, the coupling of atoms with multiple cavity modes leads to the emergence of high-orbital self-organized phases, accompanied by orbital-density waves that break different symmetries.

arXiv:2508.13410Aug 19, 20250 citations

Experiments with Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Cavity

Subhadeep Gupta, Kevin L. Moore, Thomas Purdy +3 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 22, 20050 citations

Ultracold atoms in optical lattices

Immanuel Bloch

Oxford University Press eBooksNov 15, 20120 citations

Controlling higher-orbital quantum phases of ultracold atoms via coupling to optical cavities

Hui Tan, Jinsen Han, Wei Zheng +2 more

The orbital degree of freedom plays an important role in understanding exotic phenomena of strongly correlated materials. In this work, we study strongly correlated ultracold bosonic gases coupled to a high-finesse cavity, pumped by a blue-detuned laser in the transverse direction. By controlling the reflection of the pump laser, we find that atoms can be selectively transferred to the odd-parity $p$ -orbital band or to the even-parity $d$ -orbital band of a two-dimensional square lattice, accompanied by pronounced cavity-photon excitations. By interacting with the cavity field, atoms self-organize to form stable higher-orbital superfluid and Mott-insulating phases with orbital-density waves, as a result of cavity-induced orbital-flip hoppings. Our study opens a route to manipulate orbital degrees of freedom in strongly correlated quantum gases via coupling to optical cavities.The orbital degree of freedom plays an important role in understanding exotic phenomena of strongly correlated materials. In this work, we study strongly correlated ultracold bosonic gases coupled to a high-finesse cavity, pumped by a blue-detuned laser in the transverse direction. By controlling the reflection of the pump laser, we find that atoms can be selectively transferred to the odd-parity $p$-orbital band or to the even-parity $d$-orbital band of a two-dimensional square lattice, accompanied by pronounced cavity-photon excitations. By interacting with the cavity field, atoms self-organize to form stable higher-orbital superfluid and Mott-insulating phases with orbital-density waves, as a result of cavity-induced orbital-flip hoppings. Our study opens a route to manipulate orbital degrees of freedom in strongly correlated quantum gases via coupling to optical cavities.

arXiv:2108.10495Physical Review AAug 24, 20225 citations

Nonlinear atomic cavity for ultracold atoms

Weiping Zhang, Pierre Meystre, Ewan M. Wright

Aug 24, 20050 citations

P -Band Induced Self-Organization and Dynamics with Repulsively Driven Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Cavity

Philip Zupancic, Davide Dreon, Xiangliang Li +6 more

We investigate a Bose-Einstein condensate strongly coupled to an optical cavity via a repulsive optical lattice. We detect a stable self-ordered phase in this regime, and show that the atoms order through an antisymmetric coupling to the P band of the lattice, limiting the extent of the phase and changing the geometry of the emergent density modulation. Furthermore, we find a nonequilibrium phase with repeated intense bursts of the intracavity photon number, indicating nontrivial driven-dissipative dynamics.We investigate a Bose-Einstein condensate strongly coupled to an optical cavity via a repulsive optical lattice. We detect a stable self-ordered phase in this regime, and show that the atoms order through an antisymmetric coupling to the P band of the lattice, limiting the extent of the phase and changing the geometry of the emergent density modulation. Furthermore, we find a nonequilibrium phase with repeated intense bursts of the intracavity photon number, indicating nontrivial driven-dissipative dynamics.

arXiv:1905.10377Physical Review LettersDec 2, 201949 citations

p

-orbital self-organization of ultracold atoms coupled to optical cavities

s

-orbital state can be scattered into

p_x

- and

p_y

-orbital states in either a symmetric or asymmetric manner, depending on the frequencies of the two cavities. For the symmetric configuration, we observe that atoms are scattered into the

p_x

- and

p_y

-orbitals equally. In the asymmetric case, photons emitted into one cavity mode suppress the scattering into the orthogonal mode. Notably, the coupling of atoms with multiple cavity modes leads to the emergence of high-orbital self-organized phases, accompanied by orbital-density waves that break different symmetries.

p

-orbital band or to the even-parity

d

-orbital band of a two-dimensional square lattice, accompanied by pronounced cavity-photon excitations. By interacting with the cavity field, atoms self-organize to form stable higher-orbital superfluid and Mott-insulating phases with orbital-density waves, as a result of cavity-induced orbital-flip hoppings. Our study opens a route to manipulate orbital degrees of freedom in strongly correlated quantum gases via coupling to optical cavities.