Dispersion and wavefunction symmetry in cold atoms experiencing artificial gauge fields

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-orbit coupling induced by Raman lasers alters the dispersion and symmetry of the ground state wavefunction in cold atoms under various potentials, revealing novel quantum behaviors.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the effects of artificial gauge fields on dispersion and wavefunction symmetry in cold atom systems, highlighting new quantum phenomena.

Findings

Modified dispersion due to spin-orbit coupling affects ground state symmetry

Unusual single particle physics emerges from the altered dispersion

Ground state wavefunction symmetry varies with potential type

Abstract

We analyze the single particle quantum mechanics of an atom whose dispersion is modified by spin orbit coupling to Raman lasers. We calculate how the novel dispersion leads to unusual single particle physics. We focus on the symmetry of the ground state wavefunction in different potentials.