Simulate anyons by cold atoms with induced electric dipole momentum

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that cold atoms with induced electric dipole moments can simulate anyons when subjected to specific electromagnetic fields, with fractional angular momentum emerging at low kinetic energy.

Contribution

It introduces a method to simulate anyons using cold atoms with induced electric dipoles in tailored electromagnetic fields, revealing fractional angular momentum behavior.

Findings

Atoms behave like anyons at low kinetic energy.

Fractional angular momentum depends on magnetic and electric fields.

Electromagnetic field configuration enables simulation of anyonic statistics.

Abstract

We show that it is possible to simulate an anyon by a trapped atom which possesses an induced electric dipole moment in the background of electromagnetic fields with a specific configuration. The electromagnetic fields we applied contain a magnetic and two electric fields. We find that when the atom is cooled down to the limit of the negligibly small kinetic energy, the atom behaves like an anyon because its angular momentum takes fractional values. The fractional part of the angular momentum is determined by both the magnetic and one of the electric fields. Roles two electromagnetic fields played are analyzed.