Orbital Quantum Phases Of Ultracold Atoms
Abstract
Experimental advances in orbital optical lattices have made great strides in multiple frontiers. Novel types of interaction-driven orbital matter, such as chiral orbital and nematic superfluids, are observed for bosonic atoms populated in the excited Bloch bands on checkerboard, hexagonal or triangular lattices. For the first time, fermionic atoms have also been prepared on higher bands with inter-band orbital interaction controlled by s or p-wave Feshbach resonances with atom loss suppressed. This proposal addresses theoretical challenges in understanding the emerging many-body physics of interacting quantum gases in the experimentally-achieved new regimes where the orbital degrees of freedom, similar to but different from spin in a fundamental way, play a central role. These new conditions demand study beyond the realm of traditional single-band Hubbard model. Theories of multi-orbital quantum gases must capture the complex symmetry breaking that involves intra- and inter-orbital interactions, spatial inversion and time reversal, fluctuations beyond mean-field, and the frustration or intertwining of competing orders. Drawing from the synergy of two Principal Investigators’ expertise, field-theoretical and numerical techniques are combined to set up the effective theory for multi-orbital quantum gases, predict their phase diagrams, and investigate excitations and finite-temperature effects. The research plan is organized into two phases, and consists of five interrelated projects ranging from orbital Bose-Einstein condensates to Fermi superfluids near p-wave resonance, intertwined spin-orbital order of interacting s and p-band fermions, and highly entangled orbitals with strong frustration. Each project, aiming at a particular experimental system, focuses on one specific aspect of orbital quantum gases. Predicted experimental signatures provide motivation and guidance to ongoing and future cold atoms experiments. The resulting knowledge and techniques have the potential to impact on research in AMO physics or quantum materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310598
Entities
People
- Wensheng Vincent Liu
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Pittsburgh