Universität zu Köln

Leder, Martin, Grossert, Christopher, Sitta, Lukas, Genske, Maximilian, Rosch, Achim ORCID: 0000-0002-6586-5721 and Weitz, Martin ORCID: 0000-0002-4236-318X (2016). Real-space imaging of a topologically protected edge state with ultracold atoms in an amplitude-chirped optical lattice. Nat. Commun., 7. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2041-1723

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Abstract

To describe a mobile defect in polyacetylene chains, Su, Schrieffer and Heeger formulated a model assuming two degenerate energy configurations that are characterized by two different topological phases. An immediate consequence was the emergence of a soliton-type edge state located at the boundary between two regions of different configurations. Besides giving first insights in the electrical properties of polyacetylene materials, interest in this effect also stems from its close connection to states with fractional charge from relativistic field theory. Here, using a one-dimensional optical lattice for cold rubidium atoms with a spatially chirped amplitude, we experimentally realize an interface between two spatial regions of different topological order in an atomic physics system. We directly observe atoms confined in the edge state at the intersection by optical real-space imaging and characterize the state as well as the size of the associated energy gap. Our findings hold prospects for the spectroscopy of surface states in topological matter and for the quantum simulation of interacting Dirac systems.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Leder, Martin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Grossert, Christopher UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Sitta, Lukas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Genske, Maximilian UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Rosch, Achim UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-6586-5721 UNSPECIFIED Weitz, Martin UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-4236-318X UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-258244
DOI:	10.1038/ncomms13112
Journal or Publication Title:	Nat. Commun.
Volume:	7
Date:	2016
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2041-1723
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language QUANTUM SIMULATION; BLOCH BANDS; FERMIONS; PHASE; INSULATORS; POTENTIALS; SOLITONS; EQUATION; NUMBER Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/25824