Realizing quantum spin models with ⁷Li atoms in an optical lattice

Quantum spin Hamiltonians are paradigmatic models, which display different kinds of quantum phase transitions, strongly-correlated and topological ground states, and various regimes of transport. Expanding their significance, many mappings exist between quantum spin models and other systems in different areas of physics, mathematics, and beyond. Even though quantum spin models have been studied extensively, there are still many open questions. Simulating these Hamiltonians with the system of ultracold atoms in optical lattices provides a new perspective with the wide tunability of parameters and the minimal coupling to the environment. The mapping involves using the Mott insulating state of ultracold atoms in optical lattices, where the energy of a second-order tunneling process (superexchange) maps to the parameters of a Heisenberg model. This thesis provides a detailed roadmap for the design and building of such a quantum simulator with ⁷Li atoms in optical lattices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Dimitrova, Ivana Ljubomirova.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Wolfgang Ketterle.

• Physics.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/128327

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/128327