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Observation of Interaction-Induced Mobility Edge in an Atomic Aubry-André Wire
Yunfei Wang1, Jia-Hui Zhang1, Yuqing Li1,2
1State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics and Quantum Optics Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China.
Abstract:
A mobility edge, a critical energy separating localized and extended excitations, is a key concept for understanding quantum localization. The Aubry-André (AA) model, a paradigm for exploring quantum localization, does not naturally allow mobility edges due to self-duality. Using the momentum-state lattice of quantum gas of Cs atoms to synthesize a nonlinear AA model, we provide experimental evidence for a mobility edge induced by interactions. By identifying the extended-to-localized transition of different energy eigenstates, we construct a mobility-edge phase diagram. The location of a mobility edge in the low- or high-energy region is tunable via repulsive or attractive interactions. Our observation is in good agreement with the theory and supports an interpretation of such interaction-induced mobility edge via a generalized AA model. Our Letter also offers new possibilities to engineer quantum transport and phase transitions in disordered systems.
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