Probing Nagaoka ferromagnetism in optical superlattices

POSTER

Abstract

In 1966, Nagaoka predicted that interaction-induced ferromagnetism occurs in lattices with specific geometry when there is one fewer electron than in the half-filled system (one hole). Here, we~describe a controllable method for observing Nagaoka Ferromagnetism (NF) in cold atoms by loading them in optical superlattices. First, we discuss how to probe NF in an array of isolated plaquettes (four lattice sites arranged in a square). Next, we discuss the more generic case of an array of weakly coupled plaquettes and suggest a method for creating and detecting long range ferromagnetic correlations.

Authors

  • Javier von Stecher

    • JILA/University of Colorado
    • JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

  • Eugene Demler

    • Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    • Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge-MA, 20138.
    • Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
    • Harvard University

  • Mikhail D. Lukin

    • Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms
    • Harvard University
    • Physics Department, Harvard University, Cambridge-MA, 20138.
    • Harvard
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Ana Maria Rey

    • JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0440, USA
    • Department of Physics, University of Colorado (JILA)
    • JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    • JILA \& Department of Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder
    • JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
    • JILA and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA