Spin Orbit Coupling in Periodically Driven Optical Lattices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to emulate spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atoms within optical lattices using a periodic force, avoiding heating issues from laser fields, and enabling spin band mixing via RF coupling.

Contribution

The proposed scheme creates artificial spin-orbit coupling without near-resonant lasers, utilizing a spin-dependent periodic force and RF coupling, which is a novel approach in cold atom systems.

Findings

Effective spin-dependent tunnel matrix elements generated by periodic force.

Avoids heating from spontaneous emission in laser-based methods.

Enables spin band mixing through RF coupling.

Abstract

We propose a method for the emulation of artificial spin orbit coupling in a system of ultracold, neutral atoms trapped in a tight-binding lattice. This scheme does not involve near-resonant laser fields, avoiding the heating processes connected to the spontaneous emission of photons. In our case, the necessary spin dependent tunnel matrix elements are generated by a rapid, spin dependent, periodic force, which can be described in the framework of an effective, time averaged Hamiltonian. An additional radio frequency coupling between the spin states leads to a mixing of the spin bands.