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Spin Pumping and Measurement of Spin Currents in Optical Superlattices

C. Schweizer, M. Lohse, R. Citro, and I. Bloch
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 170405 – Published 21 October 2016
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Abstract

We report on the experimental implementation of a spin pump with ultracold bosonic atoms in an optical superlattice. In the limit of isolated double wells, it represents a 1D dynamical version of the quantum spin Hall effect. Starting from an antiferromagnetically ordered spin chain, we periodically vary the underlying spin-dependent Hamiltonian and observe a spin current without charge transport. We demonstrate a novel detection method to measure spin currents in optical lattices via superexchange oscillations emerging after a projection onto static double wells. Furthermore, we directly verify spin transport through in situ measurements of the spins’ center-of-mass displacement.

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  • Received 1 September 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.170405

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

C. Schweizer1,2, M. Lohse1,2, R. Citro3,4, and I. Bloch1,2

  • 1Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Schellingstrasse 4, D-80799 München, Germany
  • 2Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
  • 3Dipartimento di Fisica “E. R. Caianiello”, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy
  • 4SPIN-CNR Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 17 — 21 October 2016

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