Probing the Superfluid–to–Mott Insulator Transition at the Single-Atom Level

Bakr, W.S.; Peng, A.; Tai, M.E.; Ma, R.; Simon, J.; Gillen, J.I.; Fölling, S.; Pollet, L.; Greiner, M.

doi:10.1126/science.1192368

Probing the Superfluid–to–Mott Insulator Transition at the Single-Atom Level

Jul 30, 2010

Published in:

Science 329 (2010) 5991, 1192368

Published: Jul 30, 2010

DOI:

10.1126/science.1192368

reference search144 citations

Citations per year

Abstract: (American Association for the Advancement of Science)

Quantum gases in optical lattices offer an opportunity to experimentally realize and explore condensed matter models in a clean, tunable system. We used single atom–single lattice site imaging to investigate the Bose-Hubbard model on a microscopic level. Our technique enables space- and time-resolved characterization of the number statistics across the superfluid–Mott insulator quantum phase transition. Site-resolved probing of fluctuations provides us with a sensitive local thermometer, allows us to identify microscopic heterostructures of low-entropy Mott domains, and enables us to measure local quantum dynamics, revealing surprisingly fast transition time scales. Our results may serve as a benchmark for theoretical studies of quantum dynamics, and may guide the engineering of low-entropy phases in a lattice.

References(33)

Figures(0)

[1]

Imaging the granular structure of high-Tc superconductivity in underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ

Lang K. M.

- Nature 415 (2002) 412
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/415412a

[2]

Single-Molecule Optical Detection, Imaging and Spectroscopy

T. Basch
,
W.E. Moerner
,
M. Orrit
,
U.P. Wild

[3]

A single-molecule study of RNA catalysis and folding

Zhuang X.

- Science 288 (2000) 2048
•
DOI:
- 10.1126/science.288.5473.2048

[4]

A quantum gas microscope for detecting single atoms in a Hubbard-regime optical lattice

- Nature 462 (2009) 7269, 74-77
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/nature08482

[5]

Boson localization and the superfluid-insulator transition

Matthew P.A. Fisher
(
- IBM Watson Res. Ctr.
)
,
Peter B. Weichman
(
- Caltech
)
,
G. Grinstein
(
- IBM Watson Res. Ctr.
)
,
Daniel S. Fisher
(
- Princeton U.
)

- Phys.Rev.B 40 (1989) 546-570
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.40.546

[6]

Cold Bosonic Atoms in Optical Lattices

D. Jaksch
(
- Santa Barbara, KITP and
- Innsbruck U.
)
,
C. Bruder
(
- Santa Barbara, KITP and
- Karlsruhe U.
)
,
J.I. Cirac
(
- Santa Barbara, KITP and
- Innsbruck U.
)
,
C.W. Gardiner
(
)
,
P. Zoller
(
- Santa Barbara, KITP and
- Innsbruck U.
)

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 81 (1998) 3108-3111
•
e-Print:
- cond-mat/9805329
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.3108

[7]

Quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a Mott insulator in a gas of ultracold atoms

- Nature 415 (2002) 39-44
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/415039a

[8]

A Mott insulator of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice

- Nature 455 (2008) 7210, 204-207
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/nature07244

[9]

Metallic and insulating phases of repulsively interacting fermions in a 3D optical lattice

Schneider U.

- Science 322 (2008) 1520
•
DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1165449

[10]

On-site number statistics of ultracold lattice bosons

Capogrosso-Sansone B.
,
Kozik E.
,
Prokof'ev N.
,
Svistunov B.

- Phys.Rev.A 75 (2007) 013619
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.75.013619

[11]

Collapse and revival of the matter wave field of a Bose–Einstein condensate

- Nature 419 (2002) 6902, 51-54
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/nature00968

[12]

Probing number squeezing of ultracold atoms across the superfluid-Mott insulator transition

Gerbier F.
,
Fölling S.
,
Widera A.
,
Mandel O.
,
Bloch I.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 96 (2006) 090401
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.090401

[13]

Formation of spatial shell structure in the superfluid to Mott insulator transition

Fölling S.
,
Widera A.
,
Müller T.
,
Gerbier F.
,
Bloch I.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 97 (2006) 060403
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.060403

[14]

Imaging the Mott insulator shells by using atomic clock shifts

Campbell G. K.

- Science 313 (2006) 649
•
DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1130365

[15]

In situ observation of incompressible Mott-insulating domains in ultracold atomic gases

Gemelke N.
,
Zhang X.
,
Hung C. L.
,
Chin C.

- Nature 460 (2009) 995
•
DOI:
- 10.1038/nature08244

[16]

See supporting material on Science Online

[17]

Superfluid to Mott insulator transition in one, two, and three dimensions

Köhl M.
,
Moritz H.
,
Stöferle T.
,
Schori C.
,
Esslinger T.

- J.Low Temp.Phys. 138 (2005) 635
•
DOI:
- 10.1007/s10909-005-2273-4

[18]

Mott-insulator transition in a two-dimensional atomic Bose gas

Spielman I. B.
,
Phillips W. D.
,
Porto J. V.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 98 (2007) 080404
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.080404

[19]

Monte Carlo study of the two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model

Capogrosso-Sansone B.
,
Söyler Ş.
,
Prokof'ev N.
,
Svistunov B.

- Phys.Rev.A 77 (2008) 015602
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.77.015602

[20]

Unity occupation of sites in a 3D optical lattice

DePue M. T.
,
McCormick C.
,
Winoto S. L.
,
Oliver S.
,
Weiss D. S.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 82 (1999) 2262
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.2262

[21]

Spin gradient thermometry for ultracold atoms in optical lattices

Weld D. M.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 103 (2009) 245301
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.245301

[22]

S. Trotzky

[23]

Controlling Spin Exchange Interactions of Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 91 (2003) 9, 090402
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.090402

[24]

Phase diagram of two-component bosons on an optical lattice

Altman E.
,
Hofstetter W.
,
Demler E.
,
Lukin M. D.

- New J.Phys. 5 (2003) 113
•
DOI:
- 10.1088/1367-2630/5/1/113

[25]

Time-Resolved Observation and Control of Superexchange Interactions with Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices

et al.

- Science 319 (2008) 5861, 1150841
•
DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1150841

1-25 of 33
1
2
25 / page