One-dimensional phase transitions in a two-dimensional optical lattice

TL;DR

This paper investigates a phase transition in a 2D optical lattice where anisotropic tunneling causes a transition from a superfluid to a Mott insulator, using quantum Monte Carlo to analyze critical properties.

Contribution

It introduces a model for anisotropic tunneling in 2D optical lattices and characterizes the phase transition with quantum Monte Carlo simulations, linking it to other lattice models.

Findings

Transition between superfluid and Mott insulator identified

Critical properties related to boson correlations established

Criterion for commensurate filling determined

Abstract

A phase transition for bosonic atoms in a two-dimensional anisotropic optical lattice is considered. If the tunnelling rates in two directions are different, the system can undergo a transition between a two-dimensional superfluid and a one-dimensional Mott insulating array of strongly coupled tubes. The connection to other lattice models is exploited in order to better understand the phase transition. Critical properties are obtained using quantum Monte Carlo calculations. These critical properties are related to correlation properties of the bosons and a criterion for commensurate filling is established.