New Physics from Strong Interaction Effects in Certain Lattices
Nov. 1, 2023 (Wed.) at 1:30PM (ET)
Virginia Tech
The discovery of the fractional quantum Hall effects taught us that inter-particle interaction can, in and of itself, drive the creation of interesting quantum liquids with fascinating topological properties. Can the emergence of analogous interaction-driven phases arise in lattices? I will review theory work in our group that explores the role of interactions in driving new phases of quantum matter in minimal lattice models. In one set of projects, we showed that spin-orbit coupling in lattices can create flat bands akin to those found in the fractional quantum Hall regime and in twisted bilayer graphene. I will discuss numerical evidence for the emergence of Luttinger liquids and superfluids driven entirely by interaction effects in bands flattened by spin-orbit coupling. I will also discuss lattices with quadratic band crossing points. Here our work supports the idea that interactions spontaneously break time-reversal symmetry to generate an anomalous chiral phase without external fields. Proposals for implementing these phenomena with cold atoms and molecules in optical lattices will be discussed.