Manipulating atoms in an optical lattice:fractional fermion number and its optical quantum measurement

Ruostekoski, J. and Javanainen, J. and Dunne, G.V. (2008) Manipulating atoms in an optical lattice:fractional fermion number and its optical quantum measurement. Physical review a, 77 (1). ISSN 1050-2947

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Abstract

We provide a detailed analysis of our previously proposed scheme [ J. Ruostekoski, G. V. Dunne and J. Javanainen Phys. Rev. Lett. 88 180401 (2002)] to engineer the profile of the hopping amplitudes for atomic gases in a one-dimensional optical lattice so that the particle number becomes fractional. We consider a constructed system of a dilute two-species gas of fermionic atoms where the two components are coupled via a coherent electromagnetic field with a topologically nontrivial phase profile. We show both analytically and numerically how the resulting atomic Hamiltonian in a prepared dimerized optical lattice with a defect in the pattern of alternating hopping amplitudes exhibits a fractional fermion number. In particular, in the low-energy limit we demonstrate the equivalence of the atomic Hamiltonian to a relativistic Dirac Hamiltonian describing fractionalization in quantum field theory. Expanding on our earlier argument [ J. Javanainen and J. Ruostekoski Phys. Rev. Lett. 91 150404 (2003)] we show how the fractional eigenvalues of the particle number operator can be detected via light scattering. In particular, we show how scattering of far-off resonant light can convey information about the counting and spin statistics of the atoms in an optical lattice, including state-selective atom density profiles and atom number fluctuations. Optical detection could provide a truly quantum mechanical measurement of the particle number fractionalization in a dilute atomic gas.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Physical review a
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100/3107
Subjects:
?? ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS, AND OPTICS ??
ID Code:
123677
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
26 Feb 2018 11:12
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 02:22