Realizing a 1D topological gauge theory in an optically dressed BEC.

Topological gauge theories describe the low-energy properties of certain strongly correlated quantum systems through effective weakly interacting models1,2. A prime example is the Chern-Simons theory of fractional quantum Hall states, where anyonic excitations emerge from the coupling between weakly interacting matter particles and a density-dependent gauge field3. Although in traditional solid-state platforms such gauge theories are only convenient theoretical constructions, engineered quantum systems enable their direct implementation and provide a fertile playground to investigate their phenomenology without the need for strong interactions4. Here, we report the quantum simulation of a topological gauge theory by realizing a one-dimensional reduction of the Chern-Simons theory (the chiral BF theory5-7) in a Bose-Einstein condensate. Using the local conservation laws of the theory, we eliminate the gauge degrees of freedom in favour of chiral matter interactions8-11, which we engineer by synthesizing optically dressed atomic states with momentum-dependent scattering properties. This allows us to reveal the key properties of the chiral BF theory: the formation of chiral solitons and the emergence of an electric field generated by the system itself. Our results expand the scope of quantum simulation to topological gauge theories and open a route to the implementation of analogous gauge theories in higher dimensions12.

Simulating Twistronics without a Twist.

Rotational misalignment or twisting of two monolayers of graphene strongly influences its electronic properties. Structurally, twisting leads to large periodic supercell structures, which in turn can support intriguing strongly correlated behavior. Here, we propose a highly tunable scheme to synthetically emulate twisted bilayer systems with ultracold atoms trapped in an optical lattice. In our scheme, neither a physical bilayer nor twist is directly realized. Instead, two synthetic layers are produced exploiting coherently coupled internal atomic states, and a supercell structure is generated via a spatially dependent Raman coupling. To illustrate this concept, we focus on a synthetic square bilayer lattice and show that it leads to tunable quasiflatbands and Dirac cone spectra under certain magic supercell periodicities. The appearance of these features are explained using a perturbative analysis. Our proposal can be implemented using available state-of-the-art experimental techniques, and opens the route toward the controlled study of strongly correlated flatband accompanied by hybridization physics akin to magic angle bilayer graphene in cold atom quantum simulators.

Non-abelian gauge fields and topological insulators in shaken optical lattices.

Time-periodic driving like lattice shaking offers a low-demanding method to generate artificial gauge fields in optical lattices. We identify the relevant symmetries that have to be broken by the driving function for that purpose and demonstrate the power of this method by making concrete proposals for its application to two-dimensional lattice systems: We show how to tune frustration and how to create and control band touching points like Dirac cones in the shaken kagome lattice. We propose the realization of a topological and a quantum spin Hall insulator in a shaken spin-dependent hexagonal lattice. We describe how strong artificial magnetic fields can be achieved for example in a square lattice by employing superlattice modulation. Finally, exemplified on a shaken spin-dependent square lattice, we develop a method to create strong non-abelian gauge fields.