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 Physics at Virginia

"Quantum Phases of Dipolar Bosons"


Carlos A. R. Sa de Melo , Georgia Institute of Technology
[Host: Cass Sackett]
ABSTRACT:
An ensemble of heteronuclear (dipolar) molecules or Rydberg atoms can exhibit many interesting condensed-matter-like properties at ultra-low temperatures because of the long-range range interaction due to their permanent dipole moments [1]. In this talk, I discuss possible quantum phases of dipolar bosons for optical lattices [2] and continuum [3] systems in the two-dimensional regime. In the optical lattice case, several exotic low temperature phases can emerge out the dipolar superfluid. These phases include checkerboard supersolids, striped supersolids and collapsed. The emergence of a striped supersolid is particularly interesting because the anisotropy of the dipolar interaction can be controlled externally. In the case of dipolar bosons in continuum systems, I discuss the finite temperature phase diagram of purely repulsive interactions and show that for large dipolar repulsions a dipolar Wigner crystal appears at low temperatures and melts at intermediate temperatures into a dipolar hexatic fluid, before becoming a normal dipolar fluid at higher temperatures. Other exotic intermediate phases such as supersolid and hexatic superfluid (a melted supersolid) are possible. The experimental characterization of theses phases may be achieved via Bragg scattering techniques. Refs: [1] M. Iskin and C. A. R. Sa de Melo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 110402 (2007). [2] I. Danshita and C. A. R. Sa de Melo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 225301 (2009). [3] K. Mitra, C. J. Williams, and C. A. R. Sa de Melo, Arxiv 0903.4655v1.
Condensed Matter Seminar
Thursday, March 3, 2011
3:30 PM
Physics Building, Room 204
Note special room.

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