Topological Atomic Spin Wave Lattices by Dissipative Couplings

Recent experimental advances in creating dissipative couplings provide a new route for engineering exotic lattice systems and exploring topological dissipation. Using the spatial lattice of atomic spin waves in a vacuum vapor cell, where purely dissipative couplings arise from diffusion of atoms, we experimentally realize a dissipative version of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. We construct the dissipation spectrum of the topological or trivial lattices via electromagnetically induced-transparency spectroscopy. The topological dissipation spectrum is found to exhibit edge modes within a dissipative gap. We validate chiral symmetry of the dissipative SSH couplings and also probe topological features of the generalized dissipative SSH model. This work paves the way for realizing non-Hermitian topological quantum optics via dissipative couplings.

Automated summary

Recent experimental advances in creating dissipative couplings provide a new route for engineering exotic lattice systems and exploring topological dissipation. Using a spatial lattice of atomic spin waves, we experimentally realize a dissipative version of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. The dissipative spectrum of the topological lattices shows edge modes within a dissipative gap. This work opens up the possibility of realizing non-Hermitian topological quantum optics through dissipative couplings.