Synthetic dimensions with ultracold RbCs in a molecular microscope
ORAL
Abstract
Synthetic dimensions involve using an internal degree of freedom of the system to simulate an extra spatial dimension and have previously been realised in Rydberg atoms and neutral atoms [1], and proposed in molecules [2]. The use of a synthetic dimension allows us to increase the dimensionality of the system being investigated, allowing for the study of systems with higher than three dimensions. The Hamiltonian in the synthetic dimension relies only on microwave powers and detunings, and hence can be easily and arbitrarily tuned, allowing for great flexibility in the model to be studied.
We present the realisation of a synthetic dimension within the internal structure of an ultracold molecular sample. We utilise a stroboscopic microwave scheme to couple multiple rotational states of the molecule using one microwave source, preparing superpositions of 9 internal states in the molecule. Using only the different rotational states of the molecule, we prepare a one-dimensional synthetic lattice, realising the SSH (Su–Schrieffer–Heeger) model for up to 8 synthetic lattice sites.
We implement a state-resolved single-molecule detection scheme [3] to spectroscopically probe the bulk states and edge states of the system. We utilise the exceptionally long lifetimes and coherence times afforded to us by the molecules to accurately measure the edge state energy splitting and show the topological protection of the edge states in this model. We further probe the topological phase transition by extracting the winding number of the system.
[1] Ozawa, T., Price, H.M. Nat Rev Phys 1, 349–357 (2019).
[2] Sundar, B., Gadway, B. & Hazzard, K.R.A. Sci Rep 8, 3422 (2018).
[3] J. M. Mortlock, A. P. Raghuram, B. P. Maddox, P. D. Gregory, and S. L. Cornish. Nat Commun 17, 518 (2026).
We present the realisation of a synthetic dimension within the internal structure of an ultracold molecular sample. We utilise a stroboscopic microwave scheme to couple multiple rotational states of the molecule using one microwave source, preparing superpositions of 9 internal states in the molecule. Using only the different rotational states of the molecule, we prepare a one-dimensional synthetic lattice, realising the SSH (Su–Schrieffer–Heeger) model for up to 8 synthetic lattice sites.
We implement a state-resolved single-molecule detection scheme [3] to spectroscopically probe the bulk states and edge states of the system. We utilise the exceptionally long lifetimes and coherence times afforded to us by the molecules to accurately measure the edge state energy splitting and show the topological protection of the edge states in this model. We further probe the topological phase transition by extracting the winding number of the system.
[1] Ozawa, T., Price, H.M. Nat Rev Phys 1, 349–357 (2019).
[2] Sundar, B., Gadway, B. & Hazzard, K.R.A. Sci Rep 8, 3422 (2018).
[3] J. M. Mortlock, A. P. Raghuram, B. P. Maddox, P. D. Gregory, and S. L. Cornish. Nat Commun 17, 518 (2026).
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Publication: J. M. Mortlock, A. P. Raghuram, B. P. Maddox, P. D. Gregory, and S. L. Cornish. Nat Commun 17, 518 (2026).,
A.P Raghuram et al (in prep.)
Presenters
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Adarsh P Raghuram
- Durham University