Simulations of ultracold bosonic atoms in optical lattices with anharmonic traps

Journal Article · Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787545

Gygi, Olivier; Katzgraber, Helmut G; Troyer, Matthias; Wessel, Stefan; Batrouni, G George ^[1]

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1. Theoretische Physik, ETH Zuerich, CH-8093 Zurich (Switzerland)

We report results of quantum Monte Carlo simulations in the canonical and the grand-canonical ensemble of the two- and three-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model with quadratic and quartic confining potentials. The quantum criticality of the superfluid-Mott insulator transition is investigated both on the boundary layer separating the two coexisting phases and at the center of the traps where the Mott-insulating phase is first established. Recent simulations of systems in quadratic traps have shown that the transition is not in the critical regime due to the finite gradient of the confining potential and that critical fluctuations are suppressed. In addition, it has been shown that quantum critical behavior is recovered in flat confining potentials as they approach the uniform regime. Our results show that quartic traps display a behavior similar to quadratic ones, yet locally at the center of the traps the bulk transition has enhanced critical fluctuations in comparison to the quadratic case. Therefore quartic traps provide a better prerequisite for the experimental observation of true quantum criticality of ultracold bosonic atoms in optical lattices.

• OSTI ID: 20787545
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Vol. 73, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.73.063606; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1050-2947
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMS
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION
BOSONS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRITICALITY
FLUCTUATIONS
HUBBARD MODEL
MONTE CARLO METHOD
POTENTIALS
RADIATION PRESSURE
SUPERFLUIDITY
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TRAPS