Quantum Phase Transitions in a Dimerized Bose-Hubbard Model: A DMRG Study

Abstract

We investigate the phase diagram of a dimerized Bose-Hubbard model, using density matrix renormalization group technique. We find a new phase, which is the coexistence of superfluid and bond-wave phases, due to the effect of dimerization. Experimentally dimerization in optical lattice can be realized by using two counter propagating laser beams of different wavelengths. Apart from the conventional superfluid to Mott insulator transition, we find a new quantum phase transition: from superfluid-bond-wave to Mott insulator-bond wave phase. Our study suggests a rich phase diagram which can be easily probed.