[PAST EVENT] Physics Colloquium

March 30, 2012
4pm - 5pm
Location
Small Hall, Room 111
300 Ukrop Way
Williamsburg, VA 23185Map this location
Abstract:
Optical lattices containing ultracold alkali atoms represent nearly ideal manifestations of Hubbard models and, as a result, are being used to study poorly understood strongly correlated phases of matter.

Our group uses numerical modeling to guide experiments in these searches. I will review our recent work that compares with ongoing optical lattice experiments trying to emulate the Fermi-Hubbard model in particular. The Fermi-Hubbard model is thought to capture some of the essential features of high temperature superconductors. I will discuss recent progress in using optical lattices to probe the controversial phase diagram of the Fermi-Hubbard model. I will also discuss a proposal to realize a supersolid, a state of matter predicted to be a simultaneous superfluid and solid, using optical lattice bosons.
Contact

[[evwilk, Elle Wilkinson]]