Seeing topological order in time-of-flight measurements

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to detect topological order in cold atom systems through time-of-flight measurements, demonstrating the realization of Haldane's model and revealing topological features as momentum space skyrmions.

Contribution

It presents a novel methodology for directly measuring topological order in cold atom experiments, including a practical implementation of Haldane's model.

Findings

Time-of-flight measurements reveal topological order as momentum space skyrmions.

Proposed realization of Haldane's model in optical lattices with fermionic atoms.

Method provides a direct experimental signature of topological phases.

Abstract

In this work we provide a general methodology to directly measure topological order in cold atom systems. As an application we propose the realisation of a characteristic topological model, introduced by Haldane, using optical lattices loaded with fermionic atoms in two internal states. We demonstrate that time-of-flight measurements directly reveal the topological order of the system in the form of momentum space skyrmions.