During this project a new exper­i­men­tal quantum gas exper­i­ment, optimised for the study of topolog­i­cal systems, has been designed and constructed.

A central feature of this setup is a novel technique for the creation of complex topolog­i­cal quantum states using state-depen­dent optical lattices. It elimi­nates many limiti­a­tions present in current exper­i­men­tal techniques, allow­ing for the study of more complex quantum system.

Addition­ally, the setup incor­po­rates state-of-the-art techniques such as high resolu­tion micro­scopes for the obser­va­tion of single atoms.

In modern condensed matter physics topol­ogy plays a funda­men­tal role in the classi­fi­ca­tion of phases of matter. A promi­nent example is the quantum Hall effect discov­ered in two-dimen­sional electron gases under extreme condi­tions. Quantum Hall insula­tors are isolat­ing in the bulk, but exhibit conduct­ing edge states, which results in a quantised Hall conduc­tance. The inter­play between topol­ogy and inter­ac­tions between parti­cles gives rise to even more exotic phenom­ena. One example is the fractional quantum Hall effect where excita­tions with fractional charges and statis­tics can occur. These topolog­i­cal systems still pose many open questions and their theoret­i­cal under­stand­ing and possi­ble reali­sa­tions in physi­cal systems is at the current frontier of research.

This project is part of the new Caesium labora­tory of the Hector Fellow Immanuel Bloch. The goal of this project is the design and construc­tion of a new exper­i­men­tal quantum gas exper­i­ment, optimised for the study of topolog­i­cal systems. A central feature of this setup will be a novel technique for the creation of complex topolog­i­cal quantum states using state-depen­dent optical lattices. This will elimi­nate many limita­tions present in current exper­i­men­tal techniques. Addition­ally, the setup will incor­po­rate novel techniques such as the usage of high resolu­tion micro­scopes, allow­ing for the obser­va­tion of single atoms. This setup will open the path for new studies of topolog­i­cal strongly-inter­act­ing phases of matter.