Heterodimer of two distinguishable atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice

TL;DR

This paper theoretically analyzes the stationary states of two distinguishable atoms forming a heterodimer in a one-dimensional optical lattice within the Bose-Hubbard model, highlighting unique odd-parity dissociated states and detection methods.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of heterodimers with odd-parity dissociated states and proposes experimental detection techniques within the Bose-Hubbard framework.

Findings

Heterodimers exhibit odd-parity dissociated states independent of interactions.

Different quasimomentum distributions can be observed in time-of-flight experiments.

Asymmetry in line shape can indicate dissociation of heterodimers.

Abstract

Within the Bose-Hubbard model, we theoretically determine the stationary states of two distinguishable atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice and compare with the case of two identical bosons. A heterodimer has odd-parity dissociated states that do not depend on the interactions with the atoms, and the lattice momenta of the two atomic species may have different averages even for a bound state of the dimer. We discuss two possible methods of detecting the dimer. First, the different distributions of the quasimomenta of the two species may be observed in suitable time-of-flight experiments. Also, an asymmetry in the line shape as a function of the modulation frequency may reveal the presence of the odd-parity dissociated states when a heterodimer is dissociated by modulating the depth of the optical lattice.