Work

Ferroelectric quantum phase transition with cold polar molecules

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We analyze a system of polar molecules in a one-dimensional optical lattice. By controlling the internal structure of the polar molecules with static electric and microwave fields, we demonstrate the appearance of a quantum phase transition into a ferroelectric phase via spontaneous breaking of a U (1) symmetry. The phase diagram is first analyzed within mean-field theory, while in a second step the results are verified by a mapping onto the Bose–Hubbard model for hard-core bosons. The latter is studied within the well-established bosonization procedure. We find that the ferroelectric phase is characterized by (quasi) long-range order for the electric dipole moments.

Source: New Journal of Physics

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/17/8/085002

Authors: Markus Klinsmann, David Peter, Hans Peter Büchler

Institution: University of Stuttgart

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft