Simulating condensed matter and quantum electrodynamics in optical lattices

• Applicant: Dr. Bernhard Wunsch
• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2007 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 65451773

I apply for funding for working with Prof. E. Demler from Harvard University on correlated phases and interaction effects in quantum gases in optical lattices. Our proposal consists of two parts. In the first one we plan to extend a recent work of Prof. E. Demler and coworkers on magnetic phases in linear chains of coupled double wells. By studying multiladder systems we expect to be able to suggest possible preparation and detection schemes of d-wave paired states, which are of great interest for the understanding of unconventional superconductivity. These schemes will be strongly linked with the unique experimental tools available in optical lattices, which often have no counterpart in a condensed matter setup.The second part of the proposal focuses on interacting fermionic quantum gases in a two dimensional hexagonal lattice, which is the quantum optical analog for the  electrons in a single layer of graphite (graphene). Close to half filling such a system is described by the Dirac rather than the Schr¨odinger equation, thus forming a bridge to quantum electrodynamics. Recently correlated phases with peculiar characteristics have been predicted for interacting Dirac fermions, which seem to be realizable in optical lattices. We plan to investigate interaction effects of Dirac fermions in optical lattices

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Dr. Eugene Demler