


Introduction
Within this project, we focus on two types of lattice models that may be simulated using dipolar gases, and in particular with polar molecules in optical lattices or tweezer arrays. On one hand, we focus on spin models, in which dipolar particles with two internal states are pinned at the lattice sites. We focus especially on out-of-equilibrium dipole-mediated spin models, studying dynamics and equilibration of one- and two-dimensional spin patterns, as well as the dynamics of spin patterns in the presence of positional and quenched disorder. On the other hand, we investigate the case in which polarised dipolar particles do tunnel to nearest neighbors. We are particularly interested on the creation of ground-state phases in experimentally-relevant finite-size scenarios, and on the effects induced by dipole-assisted hopping.
Results
Whereas in the first funding period we focused especially on the localisation properties of single spin excitations in spin models with dipolar (and more generally power-law) interactions, in the second funding period we moved initially to the more involved case of many spin excitations. We analysed the transition from an extended to a many-body localised regime as a function of on-site disorder (which may be realised in polar molecules using differential polarisabilities), and also as a function of the power of the interactions. By means of intensive numerical calculations we revealed an intriguing universality of the algebraic growth of entanglement entropy at the thermal-to-many-body localisation transition for different spin models, including those reachable using pinned polar molecules.
During the rest of the second funding period we focused our interest on the non-equilibrium physics of dipole-mediated extended Hubbard models, and in particular on the formation and dynamics of inter-site clusters and the realisation of non-ergodic many-body-localisation (MBL)-like dynamics in disorder-free systems.
Objectives
During the third funding period, we will pursue new avenues in what concerns the ground-state physics and dynamics of polar lattice gases. Due to the pressing experimental interest on these topics motivated by recent developments in magnetic atoms, polar molecules, and Rydberg atoms, we will place a very special emphasis on experimentally relevant issues, and the collaboration with experiments. The workload during the third funding period will be split between two related but differentiable sub-parts.
The first part will be devoted to the study of spin models, with a particular, but not necessarily exclusive, emphasis on dipole-mediated models. These are particularly relevant for experiments with polar molecules in optical lattices, although the considered physics will have direct relevance also for magnetic and Rydberg atoms, both in optical lattices and in optical tweezers.
The second part of the project will deal with extended Hubbard models. We will be first concerned with the ground-state properties of one-dimensional polar lattice gases , and in particular on how the phases may be experimentally realised and observed, including possible novel insulator phases that may result from the tail of the dipole-dipole interaction. A second part will be devoted to the effects of the density-assisted hopping, which may be particularly relevant in experiments.
Publications
Showing results 1 - 30 out of 31
Project leader
30167 Hannover
30167 Hannover
30167 Hannover
Staff
30167 Hannover