JCMS: The virtues of ultracold dipolar atoms: topological superconductivity to mean-field supersolidity

by Dr Thomas Bland (Lund University)

Friday 23 May 2025, 13:30 → 14:30 Europe/Stockholm

Albano 3: 6228 - Mega (22 seats) (Albano Building 3)

Speaker: Thomas Bland (Lund University).

Abstract: When combined with the high controllability of ultracold atomic systems, the long-range and anisotropic dipole-dipole interaction opens the door to a plethora of fascinating and novel phenomena. At the mean-field level, thousands of atoms can spontaneously coalesce into a state that is both superfluid and solid simultaneously--a state known as a supersolid. I will highlight recent theoretical advances in understanding the roles of the constituent solid and superfluid parts in this state, and highlight recent experimental confirmations of these predictions. In the many-body limit, ultracold magnetic atoms in optical lattices offer a versatile platform for exploring strongly correlated quantum phases. Through analytical and numerical analysis, I will present recent results that reveal a rich phase diagram featuring distinct superconducting and symmetry-protected topological phases.