Quantum Café: Ideal Optical Flux Lattices

I shall present a new approach for engineering fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states in cold atoms, overcoming the limitations of current methods. By introducing a simple scalar potential to a two-state optical flux lattice (OFL), we create Chern bands that are simultaneously exceptionally flat and “ideal” for hosting strongly correlated phases. Drawing inspiration from “magic-angle” physics in moiré materials, our method allows for precise tuning of the band geometry by accessing specific N-flat manifolds (N=1,2,…). We provide several design examples, including dark-state OFLs, that stabilize both Abelian and non-Abelian FQH states. The scheme is compatible with existing experimental techniques, providing a practical path toward exploring topological quantum matter with ultracold atoms.

Nigel Cooper is Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge, following previous positions at the University of Birmingham, the Institute Laue Langevin, Harvard University and Oxford University. His group investigates thetheoretical physics of many-particle quantum systems, connecting with a broad range of experimental platforms, including electronic materials, ultracold gases, and other synthetic quantum systems.His work has been recognised by several awards, including a Humboldt Research Award, Distinguished Fellowship of the Max-Planck Institute for Quantum Optics, the Maxwell and Rayleigh Prizes of the UK’s institute of Physics, and a Simons Investigator Award.