title: Quantum simulation. Spectroscopic observation of SU(N)-symmetric interactions in Sr orbital magnetism.
abstract: SU(N) symmetry can emerge in a quantum system with N single-particle spin states when spin is decoupled from interparticle interactions. Taking advantage of the high measurement precision offered by an ultrastable laser, we report a spectroscopic observation of SU(N ≤ 10) symmetry in (87)Sr. By encoding the electronic orbital degree of freedom in two clock states while keeping the system open to as many as 10 nuclear spin sublevels, we probed the non-equilibrium two-orbital SU(N) magnetism via Ramsey spectroscopy of atoms confined in an array of two-dimensional optical traps; we studied the spin-orbital quantum dynamics and determined the relevant interaction parameters. This study lays the groundwork for using alkaline-earth atoms as testbeds for important orbital models.
authors.affiliation: JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bishof
authors.affiliation: JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bromley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. Joint Quantum Institute, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Safronova
authors.affiliation: Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zoller
authors.affiliation: JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. arey@jilau1.colorado.edu ye@jila.colorado.edu.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.affiliation: JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. arey@jilau1.colorado.edu ye@jila.colorado.edu.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye