Observation of spin-exchange dynamics between itinerant and localized $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental observation of spin-exchange interactions between itinerant and localized $^{171} ext{Yb}$ atoms in a mixed-dimensional optical lattice system, providing insights into quantum simulation of the Kondo effect.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mixed-dimensional two-orbital system with $^{171} ext{Yb}$ atoms and demonstrates spin-exchange dynamics using an optical Stern-Gerlach method.

Findings

Observation of spin depolarization due to exchange interactions

Implementation of a mixed-dimensional optical lattice system

Potential for quantum simulation of the Kondo effect

Abstract

We report on the observation of the spin-exchange dynamics of $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in the ground state $^1\mathrm{S}_0$ and in the metastable state $^3\mathrm{P}_0$. We implement the mixed-dimensional two-orbital system using a near-resonant and magic-wavelength optical lattices, where the $^1\mathrm{S}_0$ and $^3\mathrm{P}_0$ atoms are itinerant in a one-dimensional tube and localized in three dimensions, respectively. By exploiting an optical Stern-Gerlach method, we observe the spin depolarization of the $^1\mathrm{S}_0$ atoms induced by the spin-exchange interaction with the $^3\mathrm{P}_0$ atom. Our work could open the way to the quantum simulation of the Kondo effect.