title: Transition from a two-dimensional superfluid to a one-dimensional Mott insulator.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Theoretical Physics, Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bergkvist
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosengren
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saers
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lundh
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehn
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kastberg