Tunneling by interaction

7 November 2014

Photo: AG Sengstock

While conventional tunneling is “only single-particle physics”, we identify an interaction-driven tunneling process for atoms in optical lattices. While this possibility was discussed for solids, it could never have been observed directly. In optical lattices, this kind of tunneling is pronounced due to lattice structure, tunable interactions, and filling factors. It directly affects quantum-phase transitions, e.g., causing a significant shift in Bose-Fermi mixtures. Its density-dependence leads to new lattice models...

Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 193003 (2014), New J. Phys. 14, 033021 (2012),
Phys. Rev. A 86, 043623 (2012)

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