Birth, life, and death of a dipolar supersolid

TL;DR

This paper investigates the finite-temperature behavior of dipolar supersolids, focusing on their formation, decay, and the role of temperature, using high-resolution imaging to analyze phase transitions from thermal gas to crystalline and supersolid states.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed experimental characterization of the evaporative formation and decay of dipolar supersolids at finite temperatures.

Findings

Observation of transition from thermal gas to crystalline state.

Identification of transition from crystalline to supersolid with phase coherence.

Role of temperature in the development of the supersolid state.

Abstract

In the short time since the first observation of supersolid states of ultracold dipolar atoms, substantial progress has been made in understanding the zero-temperature phase diagram and low-energy excitations of these systems. Less is known, however, about their finite-temperature properties, particularly relevant for supersolids formed by cooling through direct evaporation. Here, we explore this realm by characterizing the evaporative formation and subsequent decay of a dipolar supersolid by combining high-resolution in-trap imaging with time-of-flight observables. As our atomic system cools towards quantum degeneracy, it first undergoes a transition from thermal gas to a crystalline state with the appearance of periodic density modulation. This is followed by a transition to a supersolid state with the emergence of long-range phase coherence. Further, we explore the role of temperature in the development of the modulated state.