Selective population of a large-angular-momentum state in an optical lattice

Abstract

We propose a method to selectively populate a large-angular-momentum state of ultracold atoms (each with an orbital angular momentum l≈2ℏ) in the Mott regime of a two-dimensional optical lattice. This is done by periodically modulating the lattice amplitude and implementing an additional rotated rectangular lattice of shorter wavelength. The specific pulse sequences are designed using a four-level model for each well and are implemented sequentially. The results are confirmed with numerical simulations of the full Schrödinger equation. These methods are another step in constructing a modular toolbox of operations for creating higher orbital states in optical lattices.