Chiral Spin Liquids and Other Topological Phases of Cold Atoms and Molecules in Optical Lattices (6.3.1)
Abstract
Topologically ordered many-body states of matter do not necessarily display conventional order, e.g., ferromagnetism, but they carry their own unique properties such as fractionalized excitations and chiral edge currents, properties that are intimately connected to the topology of the underlying state and manifest in quantized Hall effects. One seminal example is the chiral spin liquid. The chiral spin liquid was proposed as an analogue of the Laughlin state but for spins in a frustrated lattice. It is gapped in the bulk but displays gapless excitations at the edge. The edge excitations should manifest as quantized chiral spin currents in direct analogy to chiral charge currents of Laughlin states. The Laughlin and chiral spin liquid states are also connected mathematically. Our work seeks to model ultracold atoms and molecules as routes to realizing topological phases of matter. We aim to study topological phases and their observable properties; related examples include: Chiral spin liquids, topological Mott insulators, Laughlin states, Weyl semimetals, and quantum anomalous Hall states. These states share a connection and are proposed to be realized with ultracold atoms and in solids. Key to their identification is the understanding of their chiral properties. Over the long term we plan to focus on models of frustrated optical lattices in particular because topological states are favored in such cases. We also propose to estimate the entropies at which particles must be cooled to allow interesting topological phases to thermalize. Relevant energy scales are set by the strength of the interaction, which can be quite large and therefore offer promise in realizing these states at experimentally relevant entropies. In addition, significant cooling can be expected in atomic gas microscope setups that are currently being constructed to host low entropy states. We also plan to identify and study observable chiral properties of these phases to allow experiments to identify topological order. Our work will model topological states with the long term goal of fostering the realization of chiral topological phases in with ultracold atom experiments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1610182
Entities
People
- V W Scarola
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- Virginia Tech