No Arabic abstract
SU(N) symmetry can emerge in a quantum system with N single-particle spin states when spin is decoupled from inter-particle interactions. So far, only indirect evidence for this symmetry exists, and the scattering parameters remain largely unknown. Here we report the first spectroscopic observation of SU(N=10) symmetry in Sr-87 using the state-of-the-art measurement precision offered by an ultra-stable laser. By encoding the electronic orbital degree of freedom in two clock states, while keeping the system open to 10 nuclear spin sublevels, we probe the non-equilibrium two-orbital SU(N) magnetism via Ramsey spectroscopy of atoms confined in an array of two-dimensional optical traps. We study the spin-orbital quantum dynamics and determine all relevant interaction parameters. This work prepares for using alkaline-earth atoms as test-beds for iconic orbital models.
Many-body quantum systems can exhibit a striking degree of symmetry unparalleled by their classical counterparts. While in real materials SU($N$) symmetry is an idealization, this symmetry is pristinely realized in fully controllable ultracold alkaline-earth atomic gases. Here, we study an SU($N$)-symmetric Fermi liquid of $^{87}$Sr atoms, where $N$ can be tuned to be as large as 10. In the deeply degenerate regime, we show through precise measurements of density fluctuations and expansion dynamics that the large $N$ of spin states under SU($N$) symmetry leads to pronounced interaction effects in a system with a nominally negligible interaction parameter. Accounting for these effects we demonstrate thermometry accurate to one-hundredth of the Fermi energy. We also demonstrate record speed for preparing degenerate Fermi seas, reaching $T/T_F = 0.12$ in under 3 s, enabled by the SU($N$) symmetric interactions. This, along with the introduction of a new spin polarizing method, enables operation of a 3D optical lattice clock in the band insulating-regime.
Significant leaps in the understanding of quantum systems have been driven by the exploration of geometry, topology, dimensionality, and interactions with ultracold atomic ensembles. A system where atoms evolve while confined on an ellipsoidal surface represents a heretofore unexplored geometry and topology. Realizing such an ultracold bubble system (potentially Bose-Einstein condensed) has areas of interest including quantized-vortex flow respecting topological constraints imposed by closed surfaces, new collective modes, and self-interference via free bubble expansion. Large ultracold bubbles, created by inflating smaller condensates, directly tie into Hubble-analog expansion physics. Here, we report observations from the NASA Cold Atom Lab facility aboard the International Space Station of bubbles of ultracold atoms created using a radiofrequency-dressing protocol. We observe a variety of bubble configurations of differing sizes and initial temperature, and explore bubble thermodynamics, demonstrating significant cooling associated with inflation. Additionally, we achieve partial coverings of bubble traps greater than 1 mm in size with ultracold films of inferred few-$mu$m thickness, and we observe the dynamics of shell structures projected into free-evolving harmonic confinement. The observations are part of the first generation of scientific measurements made with ultracold atoms in space, exploiting the benefits of perpetual free-fall to explore gravity-free evolution of quantum systems that are prohibitively difficult to create on Earth. This work points the way to experiments focused on the nature of the Bose-Einstein condensed bubble, the character of its excitations, and the role of topology in its evolution; it also ushers in an era of orbital microgravity quantum-gas physics.
We characterize inter- and intraisotope interorbital interactions between atoms in the 1S0 ground state and the 3P0 metastable state in interacting Fermi-Fermi mixtures of 171Yb and 173Yb. We perform high-precision clock spectroscopy to measure interaction-induced energy shifts in a deep 3D optical lattice and determine the corresponding scattering lengths. We find the elastic interaction of the interisotope mixtures 173Yb_e-171Yb_g and 173Yb_g-171Yb_e to be weakly attractive and very similar, while the corresponding two-body loss coefficients differ by more than two orders of magnitude. By comparing different spin mixtures we experimentally demonstrate the SU(2)xSU(6) symmetry of all elastic and inelastic interactions. Furthermore, we measure the spin-exchange interaction in 171Yb and confirm its previously observed antiferromagnetic nature.
The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model, which captures the most striking transport properties of the conductive organic polymer $trans$-polyacetylene, provides perhaps the most basic model system supporting topological excitations. The alternating bond pattern of polyacetylene chains is captured by the bipartite sublattice structure of the SSH model, emblematic of one-dimensional chiral symmetric topological insulators. This structure supports two distinct nontrivial topological phases, which, when interfaced with one another or with a topologically trivial phase, give rise to topologically-protected, dispersionless boundary states. Using $^{87}$Rb atoms in a momentum-space lattice, we realize fully-tunable condensed matter Hamiltonians, allowing us to probe the dynamics and equilibrium properties of the SSH model. We report on the experimental quantum simulation of this model and observation of the localized topological soliton state through quench dynamics, phase-sensitive injection, and adiabatic preparation.
We introduce a spin-orbit coupling scheme, where a retro-reflected laser beam selectively diffracts two spin components in opposite directions. Spin sensitivity is provided by sweeping through a magnetic-field sensitive transition while dark states ensure that spontaneous emission remains low. The scheme is adiabatic and thus inherently robust. This tailored spin-orbit coupling allows simultaneous measurements of the spin and momentum distributions of a strontium degenerate Fermi gas, and thus opens the path to momentum-resolved spin correlation measurements on SU(N) quantum magnets.