Tunable topological phases with fermionic atoms in a one-dimensional flux lattice

Abstract

We present a simple scheme for implementing a one-dimensional (1D) magnetic-flux lattice of ultracold fermionic spin-$1/2$ atoms. The resulting tight-binding model supports gapped and gapless topological phases, and chiral currents for Meissner and vortex phases. Its single-particle spectra exhibit topological flat bands at small flux, and the flatness sensitively depends on hopping strength. An effective $p$-wave interaction arises in a $s$-wave paired superfluid. Treating atomic internal states as forming a synthetic dimension and balancing the interplay of magnetic flux and Zeeman field, our model describes a tunable topological Fermi superfluid, which paves the way towards experimental explorations of non-Abelian topological matter in 1D atomic quantum gases.

6 pages, 4 figures