Chiral phases and dynamics of dipoles in triangular optical ladders

TL;DR

This paper explores how dipolar interactions and geometric frustration in triangular optical ladders lead to chiral phases and dynamics, with potential for observing phase transitions and complex ground states.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of chiral and nematic phases in dipolar systems on triangular ladders, highlighting the role of frustration and external control.

Findings

Observation of dipole-induced transition between chiral and non-chiral superfluids

Identification of frustrated dipolar XXZ spin models with rich ground states

Potential to observe chiral dynamics and phase transitions at current experimental temperatures

Abstract

Dipoles in triangular optical ladders constitute a flexible platform for the study of the interplay between geometric frustration and long-range anisotropic interactions, and in particular for the observation of the spontaneous onset of chirality. Frustration magnifies the effect of the dipolar interactions in itinerant polarized dipolar bosons. As a result, the dipole-induced transition between a chiral superfluid and a non-chiral two-component superfluid may be observed for current state-of-the-art temperatures even for the weak inter-site interaction characterizing magnetic atoms in standard optical lattices. On the other hand, pinned spin-$1/2$ dipoles, which we discuss in the context of polar molecules in two rotational states, realize frustrated dipolar XXZ spin models. By controlling the external electric field strength and orientation, these systems can explore a rich ground-state landscape including chiral and nematic phases, as well as intriguing chiral dynamics.