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Superfluid-insulator transition in a periodically driven optical lattice.
André Eckardt1, Christoph Weiss, Martin Holthaus
1Institut für Physik, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, Oldenburg, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|February 21, 2006
Summary
An oscillating force can drive a transition between superfluid and Mott insulator states in the Bose-Hubbard model by altering the tunneling element. This finding, relevant to Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices, offers insights into quantum system dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Atomic physics
Background:
- The Bose-Hubbard model describes interacting bosons in a lattice.
- Superfluid and Mott insulator are distinct quantum phases of matter.
- Controlling quantum phase transitions is crucial for quantum technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the induction of a superfluid-to-Mott insulator transition using external driving.
- To explore the role of oscillating forces in quantum phase transitions.
- To provide a theoretical framework for experimental verification.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of the Bose-Hubbard model under periodic driving.
- Effective renormalization of the tunneling matrix element.
- Application of Floquet theory for adiabatic state following.
Main Results:
- An oscillating force effectively renormalizes the tunneling matrix element, inducing the transition.
- The mechanism relies on adiabatic following of Floquet states.
- The findings are applicable to Bose-Einstein condensates in driven optical lattices.
Conclusions:
- Periodic driving offers a viable method to control quantum phase transitions in lattice bosons.
- The study provides a pathway for experimental realization and exploration of condensate dynamics.
- The theoretical framework extends to large-scale quantum systems.