Interacting spin-1 bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice

We study, using quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations, the ground state properties of spin-1 bosons trapped in a square optical lattice. The phase diagram is characterized by the mobility of the particles (Mott insulating or superfluid phase) and by their magnetic properties. For ferromagnetic on-site interactions, the whole phase diagram is ferromagnetic and the Mott insulators-superfluid phase transitions are second order. For antiferromagnetic on-site interactions, spin nematic order is found in the odd Mott lobes and in the superfluid phase. Furthermore, the superfluid-insulator phase transition is first or second order depending on whether the density in the Mott is even or odd. Inside the even Mott lobes, we observe a singlet-to-nematic transition for certain values of the interactions. This transition appears to be first order

Finite temperature phase diagram of spin-1/2 bosons in two-dimensional optical lattice

We study a two-species bosonic Hubbard model on a two-dimensional square lattice by means of quantum Monte Carlo simulations and focus on finite temperature effects. We show in two different cases, ferro- and antiferromagnetic spin-spin interactions, that the phase diagram is composed of solid Mott phases, liquid phases and superfluid phases. In the antiferromagnetic case, the superfluid (SF) is polarized while the Mott insulator (MI) and normal Bose liquid (NBL) phases are not. On the other hand, in the ferromagnetic case, none of the phases is polarized. The superfluid-liquid transition is of the Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Thouless type whereas the solid-liquid passage is a crossover.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figure

Dirac Point and Edge States in a Microwave Realization of Tight-Binding Graphene-like Structures

We present a microwave realization of finite tight-binding graphene-like structures. The structures are realized using discs with a high index of refraction. The discs are placed on a metallic surface while a second surface is adjusted atop the discs, such that the waves coupling the discs in the air are evanescent, leading to the tight-binding behavior. In reflection measurements the Dirac point and a linear increase close to the Dirac point is observed, if the measurement is performed inside the sample. Resonances due to edge states are found close to the Dirac point if the measurements are performed at the zigzag-edge or at the corner in case of a broken benzene ring.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Ground state phase diagram of spin-1/2 bosons in a two-dimensional optical lattice

We study a two-species bosonic Hubbard model on a two-dimensional square lattice by means of quantum Monte Carlo simulations. In addition to the usual contact repulsive interactions between the particles, the Hamiltonian has an interconversion term which allows the transformation of two particles from one species to the other. The phases are characterized by their solid or superfluid properties and by their polarization, i.e. the difference in the populations. When inter-species interactions are smaller than the intra-species ones, the system is unpolarized, whereas in the opposite case the system is unpolarized in even Mott insulator lobes and polarized in odd Mott lobes and also in the superfluid phase. We show that in the latter case the transition between the Mott insulator of total density two and the superfluid can be either of second or first order depending on the relative values of the interactions, whereas the transitions are continuous in all other cases.Comment: 10 pages, 17 figure