Three body on-site interactions in ultracold bosonic atoms in optical lattices and superlattices

TL;DR

This paper investigates how three-body on-site interactions influence the phase transition between Mott insulator and superfluid states in ultracold bosonic atoms within optical lattices and superlattices, using theoretical methods.

Contribution

It introduces the effect of three-body interactions into the Bose-Hubbard model and analyzes their impact on phase diagrams and transitions in optical lattices and superlattices.

Findings

Three-body interactions modify the phase boundaries in optical lattices.

Distinct phase transition signatures are identified for experimental observation.

Theoretical phase diagrams include effects of three-body interactions.

Abstract

The Mott insulator-superfluid transition for ultracold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice has been extensively studied in the framework of the Bose-Hubbard model with two-body on-site interactions. In this paper, we analyze the additional effect of the three-body on-site interactions on this phase transition in optical lattice and the transitions between the various phases that arise in an optical superlattice. Using the mean-field theory and the density matrix renormalization group method, we find the phase diagrams depicting the relationships between various physical quantities in an optical lattice and superlattice. We also suggest possible experimental signatures to observe the three-body interactions.