Generating an effective magnetic lattice for ultracold atoms

Abstract

We present a general scheme for synthesizing a spatially periodic magnetic field, or a magnetic lattice (ML), for ultracold atoms using pulsed gradient magnetic field (GMF). Our scheme is immune to atomic spontaneous emission often encountered in optical lattices, and has the additional benefits of easy tunability for both the lattice period and depth. Technical requirements for the experimental protocol implementing our scheme is estimated and shown to be readily available in today’s cold atom laboratories. The effective Hamiltonian for atoms interacting with the synthesized two-dimensional ML has not been studied in quantum condensed matter physics previously. Its band structure shows interesting features reminiscent of lattice models in p-orbit physics. Realization of our proposal will significantly expand the repertoire for quantum simulation with ultracold atoms.

Keywords

• spin–orbit coupling
• atomic Bose–Einstein condensate
• magnetic lattice
• optical lattice
• 67.85.Jk
• 03.75.Mn