Neutral Atom Seminar - Andrew Neely - Yale University

Dynamic Phase Control of a Quasiperiodic Optical Lattice

The quantum dynamics of quasiperiodic systems display a rich variety of physical behaviors due to the combination of rotational symmetry that is mathematically forbidden in periodic systems, and long-range order despite the lack of translation symmetry. New experimental probes into these dynamics with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice will yield new insights into the physics of quasiperiodic systems. The lattice is imbued with the flexibility, tunability, and purity of the individual laser beams that constitute it, allowing for exquisite control over a rich system. We thus describe and demonstrate an experimental scheme for creating a programmable, dynamic, two-dimensional quasiperiodic optical lattice with heavily suppressed phase noise. This scheme allows for full translational control of the lattice at speeds exceeding the lattice recoil velocity of lithium, which paves a path toward direct observation and control of quantum dynamics in quasicrystals.

Host: Benjamin Capinski