Two-dimensional imaging of gauge fields in optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper presents a method to create customizable gauge fields in 2D optical lattices by transforming the problem into a 2D imaging task, enabling fine patterning without diffraction limits.

Contribution

It introduces a novel scheme to generate arbitrary Abelian gauge fields in optical lattices through state-dependent potentials and imaging techniques.

Findings

Arbitrary gauge field patterns can be realized in optical lattices.

The method does not require diffraction-limited imaging.

Fine control over gauge fields is achievable in 2D optical lattices.

Abstract

We propose a scheme to generate an arbitrary Abelian vector potential for atoms trapped in a two-dimensional optical lattice. By making the optical lattice potential dependent on the atomic state, we transform the problem into that of a two-dimensional imaging. It is shown that an arbitrarily fine pattern of the gauge field in the lattice can be realized without need of diffraction-limited imaging.