arXiv subjects

Walter Hofstetter

Publications and source records attributed to Walter Hofstetter.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Effect of Two-Body Interactions on Floquet topological phases

We study the circularly driven Falicov-Kimball model on a honeycomb lattice within real space Floquet dynamical mean field theory (DMFT). The noninteracting version of this model has been realized experimentally. The noninteracting system hosts an effective Haldane phase at large driving frequencies, while at intermediate frequencies it hosts an anomalous topological phase. We study the effect of two-body interactions $U$ on the stability of these phases. We find that charge pumping does not remain quantized upon increasing $U$, despite the presence of edge modes in the spectrum. This can be attributed to the broadening of the edge modes due to interaction. We also calculate the rate of energy dissipation into the bath and find remarkably different behaviour in the two regimes.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2026

Phase Diagram and Spectral Function of the Two-Dimensional Disordered Bose-Hubbard Model: A Real-Space Dynamical Mean-Field Theory Analysis

We numerically investigate the two-dimensional Bose-Hubbard model with local onsite disorder, where the competition between disorder and short-range interactions leads to the emergence of a Bose glass (BG) phase between the Mott insulator (MI) and superfluid (SF) phases. In order to analyze the inhomogeneous system we employ real-space bosonic dynamical mean-field theory (RBDMFT) and perform an ensemble average over disorder realizations. To distinguish the MI from the BG phase, we compare the Edwards-Anderson order parameter and the compressibility with the energy-gap condition. To identify the insulator to SF transition, we apply a percolation analysis to the condensate order parameter. In qualitative accordance with the theorem of inclusions we always find an intermediate BG phase between the SF and MI. However, the quantitative comparison indicates significant deviations between the MI to BG phase boundary expected in the thermodynamic limit and the one obtained for a finite system size. Additionally, RBMDFT is capable of reliably calculating spectral information throughout the phase diagram. Analyzing the spectral function reveals evidence for analytically predicted damped localized modes in the dispersion relation in the strong-coupling regime.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2026

Paramagnetic phases of strongly correlated ultracold fermions coupled to an optical cavity

We numerically study a gas of two-component fermions coupled to a transversely pumped optical cavity and confined to a two-dimensional static square optical lattice. In the dispersive regime, the steady state of the system is described by an extended Hubbard Hamiltonian with cavity-mediated long-range interactions. Using real-space dynamical mean-field theory (RDMFT), we investigate the formation of the (superradiant) checkerboard density-wave phase. Our analysis focuses on paramagnetic phases both at quarter and half filling. At quarter filling, we find a reentrant homogeneous Fermi liquid to density wave phase transition with increasing temperature, which is due to the higher entropy of the ordered phase. At half filling, in addition to the Fermi liquid to Mott insulator phase transition, marked by a vanishing quasiparticle residue at the Fermi level, we identify the transition into a density-wave phase. Due to perfect Fermi surface nesting at half filling, we find that arbitrarily small long-range interactions destabilize the system towards the density-wave phase in the absence of short-range interactions. By varying short- and long-range interactions at a fixed low temperature, we obtain the full phase diagram and identify a region of coexistence between the homogeneous Fermi liquid and Mott insulating phase with the density-wave phase. In this region, we determine the thermodynamic phase transition by comparing the energies of the different RDMFT solutions.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

The anomalous Floquet Anderson insulator in a continuously driven optical lattice

The anomalous Floquet Anderson insulator (AFAI) has been theoretically predicted in step-wise periodically driven models, but its stability under more general driving protocols hasn't been determined. We show that adding disorder to the anomalous Floquet topological insulator realized with a continuous driving protocol in the experiment by K. Wintersperger et. al., Nat. Phys. $\textbf{16}$, 1058 (2020), supports an AFAI phase, where, for a range of disorder strengths, all the time averaged bulk states become localized, while the pumped charge in a Laughlin pump setup remains quantized.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Getting topological invariants from snapshots: a protocol for defining and calculating topological invariants of systems with discrete parameter space

Topological invariants, including the Chern numbers, can topologically classify parameterized Hamiltonians. We find that topological invariants can be properly defined and calculated even if the parameter space is discrete, which is done by geodesic interpolation in the classifying space. We specifically present the interpolation protocol for the Chern numbers, which can be directly generalized to other topological invariants. The protocol generates a highly efficient algorithm for numerical calculation of the second and higher Chern numbers, by which arbitrary precision can be achieved given the values of the parameterized Hamiltonians on a coarse grid with a fixed resolution in the parameter space. Our findings also open up opportunities to study topology in finite-size systems where the parameter space can be naturally discrete.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Floquet topological phase transitions induced by uncorrelated or correlated disorder

The impact of weak disorder and its spatial correlation on the topology of a Floquet system is not well understood so far. In this study, we investigate a model closely related to a two-dimensional Floquet system that has been realized in experiments. In the absence of disorder, we determine the phase diagram and identify a new phase characterized by edge states with alternating chirality in adjacent gaps. When weak disorder is introduced, we examine the disorder-averaged Bott index and analyze why the anomalous Floquet topological insulator is favored by both uncorrelated and correlated disorder, with the latter having a stronger effect. For a system with a ring-shaped gap, the Born approximation fails to explain the topological phase transition, unlike for a system with a point-like gap.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Invisible flat bands on a topological chiral edge

We prove that invisible bands associated with zeros of the single-particle Green's function exist ubiquitously at topological interfaces of 2D Chern insulators, dual to the chiral edge/domain-wall modes. We verify this statement in a repulsive Hubbard model with a topological flat band, using real-space dynamical mean-field theory to study the domain walls of its ferromagnetic ground state. Moreover, our numerical results show that the chiral modes are split into branches due to the interaction, and that the branches are connected by invisible flat bands. Our work provides deeper insight into interacting topological systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Antiferromagnetic Chern insulator in centrosymmetric systems

An antiferromagnetic Chern insulator (AFCI) can exist if the effect of the time-reversal transformation on the electronic state cannot be compensated by a space group operation. The AFCI state with collinear magnetic order is already realized in noncentrosymmetric honeycomb structures through the Kane-Mele-Hubbard model. In this paper, we demonstrate the existence of the collinear AFCI in a square lattice model which preserves the inversion symmetry. Our study relies on the time-reversal-invariant Harper-Hofstadter-Hubbard model extended by a next-nearest-neighbor hopping term including spin-orbit coupling and a checkerboard potential. We show that an easy $z$-axis AFCI appears between the band insulator at weak and the easy $xy$-plane AF Mott insulator at strong Hubbard repulsion provided the checkerboard potential is large enough. The close similarity between our results and the results obtained for the noncentrosymmetric Kane-Mele-Hubbard model suggests the AFCI as a generic consequence of spin-orbit coupling and strong electronic correlation which exists beyond a specific model or lattice structure. An AFCI with the electronic and the magnetic properties originating from the same strongly interacting electrons is promising candidate for a strong magnetic blue shift of the charge gap below the Néel temperature and for realizing the quantum anomalous Hall effect at higher temperatures so that applications for data processing become possible.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Hubbard model on the kagome lattice with time-reversal invariant flux and spin-orbit coupling

We study the Hubbard model with time-reversal invariant flux and spin-orbit coupling and position-dependent onsite energies on the kagome lattice, using numerical and analytical methods. In particular, we perform calculations using real space dynamical mean-field theory (R-DMFT). To study the topological properties of the system, we use the topological Hamiltonian approach. We obtain a rich phase diagram: for weak and intermediate interactions, depending on the model parameters, the system is in the band insulator, topological insulator, or metallic phase, while for strong interactions the system is in the Mott insulator phase. We also investigate the magnetic phases that occur in this system. For this purpose, in addition to R-DMFT, we also use two analytical methods: perturbation theory for large interactions and onsite energies, and stochastic mean-field theory.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2022

Extended Bose-Hubbard models with Rydberg macrodimer dressing

Extended Hubbard models have proven to bear novel quantum states, but their experimental realization remains challenging. In this work we propose to use bosonic quantum gases dressed with molecular bound states in Rydberg interaction potentials for the observation of these quantum states. We study the molecular Rabi coupling with respect to principal quantum number and trapping frequency of the ground state atoms for various molecular potentials of Rubidium and Potassium, and the hereby resulting dressed interaction strength. Additionally, we propose a two-color excitation scheme which significantly increases the dressed interaction and cancels AC Stark shifts limiting the atomic motion in the itinerant regime. We study the various equilibrium phases of the corresponding extended Bose-Hubbard model by means of the Cluster Gutzwiller approach and perform time evolution simulations via the Lindblad master equation. We find a supersolid phase by slowly ramping the molecular Rabi coupling of an initially prepared superfluid and discuss the role of dissipation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2022

Supersolid phases of ultracold bosons trapped in optical lattices dressed with Rydberg $p$-states

Engineering quantum phases with spontaneously broken symmetries is a major goal of research in different fields. Trapped ultracold Rydberg-excited atoms in optical lattices are a promising platform for realizing quantum phases with broken lattice translational symmetry since they are interacting over distances larger than the lattice constant. Although numerous theoretical works on trapped Rydberg-excited gases have predicted such phases, in particular density wave or supersolid phases, their experimental observation proves to be difficult due to challenges such as scattering processes and the limited experimentally achievable coupling strength. Most of these previous studies have focused on isotropically interacting gases dressed with Rydberg $s$-states, while the effect of anisotropic interactions due to Rydberg-excited $p$-states in trapped quantum gases remains much less investigated. Additionally, it was shown that the excitation scheme used to excite Rydberg $p$-states possesses advantages regarding achievable coupling strengths and limitation of scattering processes compared to its $s$-state counterpart, which makes the investigation of Rydberg $p$-state dressed quantum gases even more interesting. In the present work, we study the extended, two-component Bose-Hubbard model, realized with a bosonic quantum gas with Rydberg-excited $p$-states trapped in an optical lattice, within Gutzwiller mean-field theory. We compute the ground state phase diagram and investigate its different regimes. By comparison to the phase diagram of the isotropic case, we find the anisotropic interaction to be more advantageous for the observation of supersolid phases.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Z2 characterization for three-dimensional multiband Hubbard models

We introduce three numerical methods for characterizing the topological phases of three-dimensional multiband Hubbard models based on twisted boundary conditions, Wilson loops, as well as the local topological marker. We focus on the half-filled, three-dimensional time-reversal-invariant Hofstadter model with finite spin-orbit coupling. Besides the weak and strong topological insulator phases we find a nodal line semimetal in the parameter regime between the two three-dimensional topological insulator phases. Using dynamical mean-field theory combined with the topological Hamiltonian approach we find stabilization of these three-dimensional topological states due to the Hubbard interaction. We study surface states which exhibit an asymmetry between left and right surface originating from the broken parity symmetry of the system. Our results set the stage for further research on inhomogeneous three-dimensional topological systems, proximity effects, topological Mott insulators, non-trivially linked nodal line semimetals and circuit-based quantum simulators.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2021

Spin-orbit coupling in the kagome lattice with flux and time-reversal symmetry

We study the topological properties of a spin-orbit coupled Hofstadter model on the Kagome lattice. The model is time-reversal invariant and realizes a $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topological insulator as a result of artificial gauge fields. We develop topological arguments to describe this system showing three inequivalent sites in a unit cell and a flat band in its energy spectrum in addition to the topological dispersive energy bands. We show the stability of the topological phase towards spin-flip processes and different types of on-site potentials. In particular, we also address the situation where on-site energies may differ inside a unit cell. Moreover, a staggered potential on the lattice may realize topological phases for the half-filled situation. Another interesting result is the occurrence of a topological phase for large on-site energies. To describe topological properties of the system we use a numerical approach based on the twisted boundary conditions and we develop a mathematical approach, related to smooth fields.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2021

Lattice symmetry and emergence of antiferromagnetic quantum Hall states

Strong local interaction in systems with non-trivial topological bands can stabilize quantum states such as magnetic topological insulators. We investigate the influence of the lattice symmetry on the possible emergence of antiferromagnetic quantum Hall states. We consider the spinful Harper-Hofstadter model extended by a next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) hopping which opens a gap at half-filling and allows for the realization of a quantum Hall insulator. The quantum Hall insulator has the Chern number $\mathcal{C}=2$ as both spin components are in the same quantum Hall state. We add to the system a staggered potential $Δ$ along the $\hat{x}$-direction favoring a normal insulator and the Hubbard interaction $U$ favoring a Mott insulator. The Mott insulator is a Néel antiferromagnet for small and a stripe antiferromagnet for large NNN hopping. We investigate the $U$-$Δ$ phase diagram of the model for both small and large NNN hoppings. We show that while for large NNN hopping there exists a $\mathcal{C}=1$ stripe antiferromagnetic quantum Hall insulator in the phase diagram, there is no equivalent $\mathcal{C}=1$ Néel antiferromagnetic quantum Hall insulator at the small NNN hopping. We discuss that a $\mathcal{C}=1$ antiferromagnetic quantum Hall insulator can emerge only if the effect of the spin-flip transformation cannot be compensated by a space group operation. Our findings can be used as a guideline in future investigations searching for antiferromagnetic quantum Hall states.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Topological Mott transition in a Weyl-Hubbard model with dynamical mean-field theory

Weyl semimetals are three-dimensional, topologically protected, gapless phases which show exotic phenomena such as Fermi arc surface states or negative magnetoresistance. It is an open question whether interparticle interactions can turn the topological semimetal into a topologically nontrivial Mott insulating phase. We investigate an experimentally motivated model for Weyl physics of cold atoms in optical lattices, with the main focus on interaction effects and topological properties by means of dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). We characterize topological phases by numerically evaluating the Chern number via the Ishsikawa-Matsuyama formula for interacting phases. Within our studies, we find that the Chern numbers become trivial when interactions lead to insulating behavior. For a deeper understanding of the Weyl-semimetal-to-Mott-insulator topological phase transition, we evaluate the topological properties of quasiparticle bands as well as so-called blind bands. Our study is complementary to recent studies of Weyl semimetals with DMFT.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Microscopic characteristics and tomography scheme of the local Chern marker

The concept of the local Chern marker has gained a lot of attention especially in the field of ultracold quantum gases in optical lattices and artificial gauge fields. We investigate in further detail the microscopic real-space characteristics of the local Chern marker for the two-band Harper- Hofstadter-Hatsugai model and propose a tomographic scheme for the experimental detection of an approximate local Chern marker neglecting higher orders.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2020

Quasiparticle spectra of supersolid lattice gases at near-resonant Rydberg-dressing

One of the major challenges in realizing a strongly interacting lattice gas using Rydberg states is the occurrence of avalanche loss processes. As these are directly proportional to the total Rydberg fraction, the commonly suggested solution is using far off-resonantly excited Rydberg states. We instead propose the realization of a correlated bosonic lattice gas at near-resonant excitation, where the total Rydberg fraction in the bulk is low due to the strong, interaction-driven effective detuning. Using real-space dynamical mean-field theory we show that its reduced effect at the boundary of a system can easily be compensated by considering a tailored beam-waist of the driving Rabi-laser. In this geometry we discuss the spectral properties at the crossover between the supersolid and the superfluid state and present the momentum resolved spectral properties of the supersolid bulk. The latter results are obtained within an extended quasiparticle method which also yields a correction of the mean-field phase transition.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2020

Spin-imbalance-induced transverse magnetization in the Hofstadter-Hubbard model

The fermionic, time-reversal invariant Hofstadter-Hubbard model with a population difference between the two spin states is investigated. In the strongly interacting regime, where the system can be described by an effective spin model, we find an exotic spin structure by means of classical Monte-Carlo calculations. Remarkably, this spin structure exhibits a transverse net magnetization perpendicular to the magnetization induced by the population imbalance. It is thus inherently different from canted antiferromagnetism. We further investigate effects of quantum fluctuations within the dynamical mean-field approximation and obtain a rich phase diagram including ferromagnetic, anti-ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and transverse magnetization phases.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗