Mainz 2017 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 39: Ultracold atoms and BEC - IV (with A)

Q 39.1: Talk

Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 14:30–14:45, N 1

Bosonic many-body systems with topologically nontrivial phases subject to gain and loss — •Felix Dangel, Holger Cartarius, and Günter Wunner — 1. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Stuttgart, 70550 Stuttgart

Topology has emerged as a powerful tool leading to deeper insights into the classification of phases of matter. Ultracold atoms in optical lattices provide a toolbox for engineering and investigating various models with interesting topological properties. We focus on Bosonic many-body systems such as the one-dimensional superlattice Bose-Hubbard model, which exhibits topologically nontrivial phases. Edge states at open boundaries are an indicator of such phases and numerical evidence for their occurrence in the topologically nontrivial Mott-insulating phase with half-integer filling as well as a possible experimental realization have been provided in a recent work [1]. Addressing the question how edge-states are influenced when the system is extended to an open quantum system, we combine the one-dimensional superlattice Bose-Hubbard model and non-Hermitian PT-symmetric potentials which are capable of effectively describing quantum systems with balanced gain and loss.

[1] Grusdt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 260405 (2013)