Abstract:
The interplay of topological order and strong interactions gives rise to exciting many-body physics such as the fractional quantum Hall effect, whose microscopic properties can be unveiled using neutral atom-based quantum simulators. However, the experimental challenges due to the need to engineer an artificial magnetic field, especially in presence of interactions, have so far limited possible studies to small systems with few particles.
In this talk, I will present recent progress towards this goal from our cesium quantum gas microscope. The apparatus features 2D bichromatic superlattices, large homogeneous system sizes as well as tunable interactions, making it particularly suited to realize artificial magnetic fields using laser-assisted tunneling and to study the properties of strongly-correlated topological phases.
The interacting Harper-Hofstadter model on a two-leg ladder geometry at half filling exhibits a rich phase diagram with ground-state phases that host equilibrium currents. Using superlattices these can be revealed with local resolution in extended systems. Moreover, I will demonstrate how they can be employed to measure arbitrary kinetic or orbital operators, which significantly expands the capabilities of quantum gas microscopes beyond mere measurements of on-site densities. With this capability, I will present recent progress on the study of a two-leg ladder with flux at half filling, where we probe the emerging strongly-correlated states using local current measurements. This paves the way towards studying the rich physics of interacting topological matter in extended systems.