2014/03/31 by X. Zhang, M. Bishof, S. L. Bromley +5 · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #cond-mat.quant-gas #physics.atom-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/science.1254978
published as Science 345, 1467 (2014) · 4 figures, 1 tables
arxiv created 2014/04/24 · arxiv updated 2014/09/23
SU(N) symmetry can emerge in a quantum system with N single-particle spin states when spin is decoupled from inter-particle interactions. So far, only indirect evidence for this symmetry exists, and the scattering parameters remain largely unknown. Here we report the first spectroscopic observation of SU(N=10) symmetry in Sr-87 using the state-of-the-art measurement precision offered by an ultra-stable laser. By encoding the electronic orbital degree of freedom in two clock states, while keeping the system open to 10 nuclear spin sublevels, we probe the non-equilibrium two-orbital SU(N) magnetism via Ramsey spectroscopy of atoms confined in an array of two-dimensional optical traps. We study the spin-orbital quantum dynamics and determine all relevant interaction parameters. This work prepares for using alkaline-earth atoms as test-beds for iconic orbital models.