Topological fractional pumping with alkaline-earth(-like) ultracold atoms

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how alkaline-earth-like ultracold atoms in optical lattices can be used to realize a topological fractional pump, combining theoretical analysis and numerical simulations to explore experimental feasibility.

Contribution

It introduces a novel topological fractional pumping scheme using alkaline-earth-like atoms, supported by an exactly-solvable model and comprehensive numerical simulations.

Findings

Identification of a topological fractional pump mechanism

Development of an exactly-solvable model for fractional pumping

Numerical validation of the pump in realistic experimental setups

Abstract

Alkaline-earth(-like) ultracold atoms, trapped in optical lattices and in the presence of an external gauge field, can stabilise Mott insulating phases characterised by density and magnetic order. We show that this property can be used to realise a topological fractional pump. Our analysis is based on a many-body adiabatic expansion and on time-dependent matrix-product-states numerical simulations. We characterise the pumping protocol by including both finite-size and non-adiabatic corrections. For a specific form of atom-atom interaction, we present an exactly-solvable model of a fractional pump. Finally, the numerical simulations allow us to thoroughly study a realistic setup amenable of an experimental realisation.