2A: Atoms and Molecules in Lattices

Atoms and Molecules in Lattices: New Approaches to Quantum Simulation

PL: T. Esslinger

Involved PIs: J. Blatter, C. Bruder,  J. Home, F. Merkt, M. Troyer, S. Willitsch

In this project we will investigate atomic and molecular quantum systems involving large numbers of particles. We aim to get maximum control over short-ranged and long-ranged interactions between the particles in order to study strongly correlated and highly entangled many-body states. A prime example for such a many-body system is a quantum gas trapped in an optical lattice. We will use a fermionic quantum gas in this setting to test the concept of quantum simulation of the Fermi-Hubbard model. In particular, we will quantitatively compare experimental results with state-of-the-art numerical calculations.

The project will combine the experimental know-how on Rydberg atoms and molecules in the Merkt group with the expertise on quantum gases and optical lattices in the Esslinger group. At the same time the theory teams (Blatter, Bruder, Troyer) will develop the corresponding concepts, analytical descriptions and numerical methods to investigate these novel quantum many-body system.