Spin-Orbit Coupling and Spin Textures in Optical Superlattices

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel method for creating spin-orbit coupling in ultracold atoms using orbital levels in a double well potential, enabling adjustable interactions and spontaneous antiferromagnetic textures without relying on near-resonant light.

Contribution

The authors introduce a new approach to realize spin-orbit coupling with ultracold atoms using orbital levels as pseudospin states, avoiding near-resonant light and enabling tunable interactions.

Findings

Achieved spin-orbit coupling via two-photon Raman transitions in a double well system.

Observed spontaneous antiferromagnetic pseudospin textures in a Bose-Einstein condensate.

Demonstrated control over interactions by shaping the double well potential.

Abstract

We proposed and demonstrated a new approach for realizing spin orbit coupling with ultracold atoms. We use orbital levels in a double well potential as pseudospin states. Two-photon Raman transitions between left and right wells induce spin-orbit coupling. This scheme does not require near resonant light, features adjustable interactions by shaping the double well potential, and does not depend on special properties of the atoms. A pseudospinor Bose-Einstein condensate spontaneously acquires an antiferromagnetic pseudospin texture which breaks the lattice symmetry similar to a supersolid.