Landau-Stark states and edge-induced Bloch oscillations in topological lattices

Abstract

We consider dynamics of a charged particle in a finite along the $x$ direction square lattice in the presence of normal to the lattice plane magnetic field and in-plane electric field aligned with the $y$ axis. For vanishing magnetic field this dynamics would be common Bloch oscillations where the particle oscillates in the $y$ direction with amplitude inverse proportional to the electric field. We show that a non-zero magnetic field crucially modifies this dynamics. Namely, the new Bloch oscillations consist of time intervals where the particle moves with constant velocity in the $x$ direction intermitted by intervals where it is accelerated or decelerated along the lattice edges. The analysis is done in terms of the Landau-Stark states which are eigenstates of a quantum particle in a two-dimensional lattice subject to (real or synthetic) electric and magnetic fields.

epl-style, 9 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Realization of the Hofstadter Hamiltonian with ultracold atoms in optical lattices
• Realizing the Harper Hamiltonian with Laser-Assisted Tunneling in Optical Lattices
• Direct imaging of topological edge states in cold-atom systems

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Chern insulator with large Chern numbers. Chiral Majorana fermion liquid