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Realization of a Laughlin State of Two Rapidly Rotating Fermions
Philipp Lunt1, Paul Hill1, Johannes Reiter1
1<a href="https://ror.org/038t36y30">Physikalisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg</a>, Im Neuenheimer Feld 226, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Physical Review Letters
|January 3, 2025
Summary
Researchers created a Laughlin state with two rotating fermionic atoms in an optical tweezer. This work enables atom-by-atom assembly of fractional quantum Hall states in atomic gases.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Atomic physics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Fractional quantum Hall states are exotic states of matter exhibiting unique topological properties.
- Realizing these states in controllable systems is crucial for fundamental physics research and quantum technologies.
- Optical tweezers offer a promising platform for precisely controlling and manipulating individual atoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally realize and probe the Laughlin state using two rapidly rotating fermionic atoms.
- To investigate the characteristic features of the Laughlin wave function in a controlled atomic system.
- To establish a foundation for the bottom-up construction of fractional quantum Hall states.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a single atom and spin-resolved imaging technique for high-resolution probing.
- Employed optical tweezers to confine and control two fermionic atoms in a rotating configuration.
- Sampled the Laughlin wave function to reveal its intrinsic properties.
Main Results:
- Successfully realized the Laughlin state for two rotating fermionic atoms.
- Observed distinctive features of the Laughlin wave function, including vortex distribution in relative motion.
- Detected correlations in the particles' relative angle and suppression of interparticle interactions.
Conclusions:
- The experiment provides direct evidence of the Laughlin state in a tunable atomic system.
- This work demonstrates the capability of atom-by-atom assembly for creating complex quantum states.
- Lays the groundwork for future explorations of fractional quantum Hall states in rotating atomic gases.
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