Physics – Condensed Matter – Quantum Gases
Scientific paper
2011-03-30
Science 333, 996-999 (2011)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Quantum Gases
5 pages, 4 figures
Scientific paper
10.1126/science.1207239
Magnetism plays a key role in modern technology as essential building block of many devices used in daily life. Rich future prospects connected to spintronics, next generation storage devices or superconductivity make it a highly dynamical field of research. Despite those ongoing efforts, the many-body dynamics of complex magnetism is far from being well understood on a fundamental level. Especially the study of geometrically frustrated configurations is challenging both theoretically and experimentally. Here we present the first realization of a large scale quantum simulator for magnetism including frustration. We use the motional degrees of freedom of atoms to comprehensively simulate a magnetic system in a triangular lattice. Via a specific modulation of the optical lattice, we can tune the couplings in different directions independently, even from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic. A major advantage of our approach is that standard Bose-Einstein-condensate temperatures are sufficient to observe magnetic phenomena like N\'eel order and spin frustration. We are able to study a very rich phase diagram and even to observe spontaneous symmetry breaking caused by frustration. In addition, the quantum states realized in our spin simulator are yet unobserved superfluid phases with non-trivial long-range order and staggered circulating plaquette currents, which break time reversal symmetry. These findings open the route towards highly debated phases like spin-liquids and the study of the dynamics of quantum phase transitions.
Eckardt Andre
Lewenstein Maciej
Ölschläger Christoph
Sengstock Klaus
Soltan-Panahi Parvis
No associations
LandOfFree
Quantum simulation of frustrated magnetism in triangular optical lattices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Quantum simulation of frustrated magnetism in triangular optical lattices, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quantum simulation of frustrated magnetism in triangular optical lattices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-568713