Formation of Spontaneous Density-Wave Patterns in dc Driven Lattices

authored by: H. P. Zahn, V. P. Singh, M. N. Kosch, L. Asteria, L. Freystatzky, K. Sengstock, L. Mathey, C. Weitenberg
Abstract: Driving a many-body system out of equilibrium induces phenomena such as the emergence and decay of transient states, which can manifest itself as pattern and domain formation. The understanding of these phenomena expands the scope of established thermodynamics into the out-of-equilibrium domain. Here, we experimentally and theoretically study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a bosonic lattice model subjected to a strong dc field, realized as ultracold atoms in a strongly tilted triangular optical lattice. We observe the emergence of pronounced density-wave patterns - which spontaneously break the underlying lattice symmetry - using a novel single-shot imaging technique with two-dimensional single-site resolution in three-dimensional systems, which also resolves the domain structure. Our study suggests that the short-time dynamics arises from resonant pair tunneling processes within an effective description of the tilted Hubbard model. More broadly, we establish the far out-of-equilibrium regime of lattice models subjected to a strong dc field, as an exemplary and paradigmatic scenario for transient pattern formation.
Organisation(s): QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s): Universität Hamburg
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review X
Volume: 12
ISSN: 2160-3308
Publication date: 06.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General Physics and Astronomy
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.12.021014 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{2ecafed51ac245eab2d6cf252a06e0c9,
title = "Formation of Spontaneous Density-Wave Patterns in dc Driven Lattices",
abstract = "Driving a many-body system out of equilibrium induces phenomena such as the emergence and decay of transient states, which can manifest itself as pattern and domain formation. The understanding of these phenomena expands the scope of established thermodynamics into the out-of-equilibrium domain. Here, we experimentally and theoretically study the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a bosonic lattice model subjected to a strong dc field, realized as ultracold atoms in a strongly tilted triangular optical lattice. We observe the emergence of pronounced density-wave patterns - which spontaneously break the underlying lattice symmetry - using a novel single-shot imaging technique with two-dimensional single-site resolution in three-dimensional systems, which also resolves the domain structure. Our study suggests that the short-time dynamics arises from resonant pair tunneling processes within an effective description of the tilted Hubbard model. More broadly, we establish the far out-of-equilibrium regime of lattice models subjected to a strong dc field, as an exemplary and paradigmatic scenario for transient pattern formation.",
author = "Zahn, {H. P.} and Singh, {V. P.} and Kosch, {M. N.} and L. Asteria and L. Freystatzky and K. Sengstock and L. Mathey and C. Weitenberg",
note = "Funding Information: The work is funded by the Cluster of Excellence “CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter” of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)—EXC 2056—Project No. 390715994, by the DFG Collaborative Research Center SFB 925, Project No. 170620586, and by the DFG Research Unit FOR 2414, Project No. 277974659. C. W. acknowledges funding by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 802701. V. P. S. acknowledges funding by the Cluster of Excellence “QuantumFrontiers”—EXC 2123—Project No. 390837967.",
year = "2022",
month = jun,
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevX.12.021014",
language = "English",
volume = "12",
journal = "Physical Review X",
issn = "2160-3308",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "2",
}