"Structural Dynamics in Dynamical Quantum Optical Lattices"

Abstract:

Quantum many body phases in the strongly correlated regimen can be studied by means of ultracold gases inside an optical lattice, where the lattice structure is dictated by the external trapping potential[1]. By placing the atomic gas inside a high finesse optical cavity, strong coupling between matter and the quantized cavity field modesis achieved. As the atoms scatter light collectively to the cavity, the lattice potential is modified and self consistent light matter states can be formed, allowing the emergence of dynamical lattice potentials[2–6]. This permits the study of structural phase transitions between different lattice configurations[7,8] We observe different kinds of structural phase transitions driven by the light inside the cavity and the interplay with atomic collisions [9]. We observe the mode softening at the critical points in the quantum phase transitions which can be measured in future experiments.

This work is partially supported by the grant UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT:IN118823 and CONAHCYT-CB:A1-S-30934.

[1] M. Lewenstein, A. Sanpera, V. Ahufinger, Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices: Simulating quantum many-body systems (Oxford University Press, 2012)

[2] H. Ritsch, P. Domokos, F. Brennecke, and T. Esslinger, Rev. Mod. Phys. 85, 553 (2013)

[3] F. Mivehvar, F. Piazza, T. Donner, and H. Ritsch, Advances in Physics 70, 1 (2021)

[4] S. F. Caballero-Benitez, G. Mazzucchi, and I. B. Mekhov, Phys. Rev. A 93, 063632 (2016)

[5] S. F. Caballero-Benitez and I. B. Mekhov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 243604 (2015)

[6] K. Lozano-Méndez, A. H. Cásares, and S. F. Caballero-Benítez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 080601 (2022)

[7] X. Li, D. Dreon, P. Zupancic, A. Baumgärtner, A. Morales, W. Zheng, N. R. Cooper, T. Donner, and T. Esslinger,  Phys. Rev. Res. 3, L012024 (2021)

[8]P. Shakya, A. Ratnakar, and S. Ghosh, Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics 56, 035301 (2023)

[9] A. U. Ramírez-Barajas and S. F. Caballero-Benitez, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 120602 (2025)

Short Bio:

Originally from Mexico City.

B. Eng, Physics in Tec de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. 

MSc. Quantum Physics in Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. 

PhD in Physics in Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, Australia (Yuri Kivshar’s Group). 

PhD. Visiting Scholar in Max Planck Institute for the Study of Complex Systems (MPIPKS), Dresden, Germany (Peter Fulde’s Group). 

Posdoc1: Complex Systems IFUNAM., Mexico City, Mexico. (Romero-Rochin’s Group) 

Posdoc2: Atomic and Laser Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford U.K. (I. Mekhov’s Group)

CONAHCYT Chair: INAOE, Puebla/Monterrey, Mexico. (B. Rodriguez-Lara’s Group)

Current Position: Associate Professor (Tenured), Quantum Physics and Photonics, IFUNAM, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico. Arrived in 2017.

Specialist in Quantum Many-body Theory, Quantum Optics, Ultracold Atoms, Quantum Simulation and Computational Simulations.