Topological charge pumping in a one-dimensional optical lattice

A topological charge pump transfers charge in a quantized fashion. The quantization is stable against the detailed form of the pumping protocols and external noises and shares the same topological origin as the quantum Hall effect. We propose an experimental setup to realize topological charge pumping of cold fermionic atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The quantization of the pumped charge is confirmed by first-principles simulations of the dynamics of uniform and trapped systems. Quantum effects are shown to be crucial for the topological protection of the charge quantization. Finite-temperature and nonadiabatic effects on the experimental observables are discussed. The realization of such a topological charge pump serves as a firm step toward exploring topological states and nonequilibrium dynamics using cold atoms.