Realization of an atomic quantum Hall system in four dimensions

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental realization of a four-dimensional atomic quantum Hall system using synthetic dimensions in dysprosium atoms, demonstrating non-trivial topology and novel hyperedge modes, paving the way for exploring 4D topological states.

Contribution

It introduces a method to create and observe a 4D quantum Hall system in cold atoms, combining real and synthetic dimensions, and provides evidence of 4D topological phenomena.

Findings

Measurement of quantized electromagnetic non-linear response

Observation of anisotropic hyperedge modes

Excitation of non-planar cyclotron motion

Abstract

Modern condensed matter physics relies on the concept of topology to classify matter, from quantum Hall systems to topological insulators. Engineered systems, benefiting from synthetic dimensions, can potentially give access to novel topological states predicted in dimensions $D > 3$. We report the realization of an atomic quantum Hall system evolving in four dimensions (4D), with two spatial dimensions and two synthetic ones encoded in the large spin of dysprosium atoms. The non-trivial topology is evidenced by measuring a quantized electromagnetic non-linear response and observing anisotropic hyperedge modes. We also excite non-planar cyclotron motion, contrasting with its circular equivalents in $D\leq3$. Our work opens to the investigation of strongly-correlated topological liquids in 4D generalizing fractional quantum Hall states.