Transition from a two-dimensional superfluid to a one-dimensional Mott insulator.
A two-dimensional system of atoms in an anisotropic optical lattice is studied theoretically. If the system is finite in one direction, it is shown to exhibit a transition between a two-dimensional superfluid and a one-dimensional Mott insulating chain of superfluid tubes. Monte Carlo simulations are consistent with the expectation that the phase transition is of Kosterlitz-Thouless type. The effect of the transition on experimental time-of-flight images is discussed.
Bergkvist
Sara
S
Department of Theoretical Physics, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
Rosengren
Anders
A
Saers
Robert
R
Lundh
Emil
E
Rehn
Magnus
M
Kastberg
Anders
A