Loading of bosons in optical lattices into the p band

TL;DR

This paper introduces a resonant tunneling method to transfer bosonic atoms from the s-band to the p-band in optical lattices, achieving high efficiency by tuning lattice acceleration, with considerations of nonlinear interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel resonant tunneling technique for populating p-bands in optical lattices, including a mean-field model with high transfer efficiency and analysis of nonlinear effects.

Findings

Achieved around 95% population transfer efficiency.

Demonstrated control of tunneling via lattice acceleration.

Analyzed effects of atom-atom interactions and continuum coupling.

Abstract

We present a method for transferring bosonic atoms residing on the lowest s-band of an optical lattice to the first excited p-bands. Our idea hinges on resonant tunneling between adjacent sites of accelerated lattices. The acceleration effectively shifts the quasi-bound energies on each site such that the system can be cast into a Wannier-Stark ladder problem. By adjusting the acceleration constant, a situation of resonant tunneling between the s- and p-bands is achievable. Within a mean-field model, considering 87Rb atoms, we demonstrate population transfer from the s- to the p-bands with around 95 % efficiency. Nonlinear effects deriving from atom-atom interactions, as well as coupling of the quasi bound Wannier-Stark states to the continuum, are considered.