Quantized squeezing and even-odd asymmetry of trapped bosons

TL;DR

This paper explores the superfluid-to-Mott-insulator transition in trapped bosons, revealing a cascade of squeezing events and even-odd asymmetry, with implications for experimental observation in optical lattices.

Contribution

It uncovers the microscopic squeezing phenomena and even-odd asymmetry during the transition, providing detailed insights into the behavior of bosons in a harmonic trap.

Findings

Identification of a cascade of microscopic squeezing steps.

Observation of even-odd asymmetry depending on trap symmetry.

Potential for experimental detection of these phenomena.

Abstract

We investigate the exact nature of the superfluid-to-Mott-insulator crossover for interacting bosons on an optical lattice in a one-dimensional, harmonic trap by high-precision density-matrix renormalization-group calculations. The results reveal an intermediate regime characterized by a cascade of microscopic steps. These arise as a consequence of individual boson "squeezing" events and display an even-odd alternation dependent on the trap symmetry. We discuss the experimental observation of this behavior, which is generic in an external trapping potential.