Quantum simulations
A quantum simulator allows us to emulate the physical properties of a chosen system by relying on another, highly controlled system. Our team has developed a quantum simulator based on dipolar exciton fluids in GaAs. We are using this to emulate the Hubbard model and aim to demonstrate super-solid phases and high-temperature superconducting phases.
Development of a checkerboard-patterned quantum insulator based on dipolar excitons in GaAs
Dipolar bosons confined in a periodic potential are described by the extended Bose-Hubbard model, which is governed by three parameters:
the hopping amplitude between lattice sites t, the on-site interaction strength U, and the interaction between neighboring sites V.
Our team has developed a quantum simulator for this model using dipolar excitons in GaAs bilayers. We have thus demonstrated quantum
insulators such as Mott insulators or checkerboard solids in the regime t<<(U,V).
Caption :
⋄ Top left: Illustration of an electrode array deposited on the surface of a heterostructure incorporating a GaAs double quantum well.⋄ Top right: SEM image of an electrode array with a period of 250 nm. When polarized, this array induces electrostatic confinement of dipolar excitons in the bilayer.
⋄ Bottom left: Parameters (t, U, V) governing the phase diagram for the extended Bose-Hubbard model (bottom right), for which the team members highlighted the insulating region; Mott insulator (MI) with one exciton per site (n=1) and checkerboard insulator (CB) with half-filled lattice – Adapted from C. Lagoin et al., Nature 609, 485 (2022)
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