Abstract
In this work we show that light-matter excitations (polaritons) generated inside a hollow-core one-dimensional fiber filled with two types of atoms, can exhibit Luttinger liquid behavior. We first explain how to prepare and drive this quantum-optical system to a strongly interacting regime, described by a bosonic two-component Lieb-Liniger model. Utilizing the connection between strongly interacting bosonic and fermionic systems, we then show how spin-charge separation could be observed by probing the correlations in the polaritons. This is performed by first mapping the polaritons to propagating photon pulses and then measuring the effective photonic spin and charge densities and velocities by analyzing the correlations in the emitted photon spectrum. The necessary regime of interactions is achievable with current quantum-optical technology.
- Received 23 July 2010
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.153601
© 2011 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
In a tight spot, spin and charge separate
Published 11 April 2011
Photons (bosons) confined in a hollow waveguide containing an atomic gas could show spin-charge separation, which is more commonly associated with one-dimensional fermions.
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