Reversible Phasonic Control of a Quantum Phase Transition in a Quasicrystal

Periodic driving can tune the quasistatic properties of quantum matter. A well-known example is the dynamical modification of tunneling by an oscillating electric field. Here we show experimentally that driving the phasonic degree of freedom of a cold-atom quasicrystal can continuously tune the effe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 133; no. 8; p. 083405
Main Authors Shimasaki, Toshihiko, Bai, Yifei, Kondakci, H Esat, Dotti, Peter, Pagett, Jared E, Dardia, Anna R, Prichard, Max, Eckardt, André, Weld, David M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 23.08.2024
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Summary:Periodic driving can tune the quasistatic properties of quantum matter. A well-known example is the dynamical modification of tunneling by an oscillating electric field. Here we show experimentally that driving the phasonic degree of freedom of a cold-atom quasicrystal can continuously tune the effective quasidisorder strength, reversibly toggling a localization-delocalization quantum phase transition. Measurements agree with fit-parameter-free theoretical predictions, and illuminate a fundamental connection between Aubry-André localization in one dimension and dynamic localization in the associated two-dimensional Harper-Hofstadter model. These results open up new experimental possibilities for dynamical coherent control of quantum phase transitions.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.083405