Cold atoms in non-Abelian gauge potentials : from the Hofstadter "moth" to lattice gauge theory
Osterloh, K. (Universität Hannover. Institut für Theoretische Physik)
Baig i Aleu, Marià, 1955- (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Santos, L. (Universität Stuttgart. Institut für Theoretische Physik III)
Lewenstein, M. (Institut de Ciències Fotòniques)
American Physical Society

Date:	2005
Abstract:	We demonstrate how to create artificial external non-Abelian gauge potentials acting on cold atoms in optical lattices. The method employs atoms with k internal states, and laser assisted state sensitive tunneling, described by unitary k×k matrices. The single-particle dynamics in the case of intense U(2) vector potentials lead to a generalized Hofstadter butterfly spectrum which shows a complex mothlike structure. We discuss the possibility to realize non-Abelian interferometry (Aharonov-Bohm effect) and to study many-body dynamics of ultracold matter in external lattice gauge fields.
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Physical review letters, Vol. 95, Issue 1 (June 2005) , p. 010403, ISSN 1079-7114

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.010403

4 p, 230.9 KB

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