Synthetic Dimensions and Spin-Orbit Coupling with an Optical Clock Transition

Year: 2016

Authors: Livi L. F., Cappellini G., Diem M., Franchi L., Clivati C., Frittelli M., Levi F., Calonico D., Catani J., Inguscio M., Fallani L.

Autors Affiliation: LENS European Lab Nonlinear Spect, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Florence, Dept Phys & Astron, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Hamburg, ILP Inst Laserphys, D-20355 Hamburg, Germany; INRIM Ist Nazl Ric Metrol, I-10135 Turin, Italy; INO CNR Ist Nazl Ott CNR, Sez Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucl, Sez Firenze, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Abstract: We demonstrate a novel way of synthesizing spin-orbit interactions in ultracold quantum gases, based on a single-photon optical clock transition coupling two long-lived electronic states of two-electron 173Yb atoms. By mapping the electronic states onto effective sites along a synthetic electronic dimension, we have engineered fermionic ladders with synthetic magnetic flux in an experimental configuration that has allowed us to achieve uniform fluxes on a lattice with minimal requirements and unprecedented tunability. We have detected the spin-orbit coupling with fiber-link-enhanced clock spectroscopy and directly measured the emergence of chiral edge currents, probing them as a function of the flux. These results open new directions for the investigation of topological states of matter with ultracold atomic gases.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 117 (22)      Pages from: 220401-1  to: 220401-5

More Information: This work was funded by MIUR PRIN2012 AQUASIM, INFN FISh, and by EMPIR-15SIB05-OFTEN. We thank P. Cancio Pastor for experimental assistance and M. Mancini, G. Pagano, and C. Sias for critical reading of the manuscript. We also thank TOPTICA Photonics AG for prompt technical assistance.
KeyWords: Atomic clocks; Electronic states; Gases; Optical variables measurement; Particle beams; Quantum theory; Spinning (fibers), Edge currents; Optical clock transition; Single photons; Spin orbit interactions; Spin-orbit couplings; Topological state; Ultracold atomic gas; Ultracold quantum gas, Clocks
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.220401

Citations: 229
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