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Topological Bose-Mott insulators in a one-dimensional optical superlattice

Shi-Liang Zhu1, Z-D Wang2, Y-H Chan3

  • 1National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China and Laboratory of Quantum Information Technology and SPTE, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China and Department of Physics and Center of Theoretical and Computational Physics, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.

Physical Review Letters
|August 29, 2014
PubMed

Insights

We discovered topological insulators in a Bose-Hubbard model with fractional fillings. These states exhibit nontrivial edge states and can be detected in ultracold atomic experiments by measuring atom density profiles.

Area of Science:

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Quantum Simulation
  • Atomic Physics

Background:

  • The Bose-Hubbard model describes interacting bosons in a lattice.
  • Topological insulators possess unique electronic properties with protected edge states.
  • Optical superlattices provide a controllable platform for simulating quantum many-body systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate topological properties of the Bose-Hubbard model in a 1D optical superlattice.
  • Identify conditions for topological phases under fractional fillings.
  • Propose experimental methods for detecting topological signatures in ultracold atomic systems.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical analysis of the Bose-Hubbard model with repulsive interactions.
  • Calculation of topological invariants, specifically the charge or spin Chern number.
  • Simulation of ultracold atomic gases in optical superlattices.

Main Results:

  • Mott insulator states at fractional fillings exhibit topological insulator properties.
  • Characterization by a nonzero charge (single-component) or spin (two-component) Chern number.
  • Identification of nontrivial edge states associated with these topological phases.

Conclusions:

  • Fractional fillings in the Bose-Hubbard model lead to topological insulating states.
  • The topological Chern number is a key characteristic of these states.
  • Experimental detection is feasible by measuring atomic density profiles in a harmonic trap.

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