Supersolid in a one-dimensional optical lattice in the presence of a harmonic trap

Abstract

We study a system of ultra-cold atoms possessing long range interaction (e.g. dipole-dipole interaction) in a one dimensional optical lattice in the presence of a confining harmonic trap. We have shown that for large enough on-site and nearest neighbor interaction a supersolid phase can be stabilized, consistent with the previous Quantum Monte Carlo and DMRG results for the homogeneous system. Due to the external harmonic trap potential the supersolid phase coexists with other phases. We emphasize on the experimental signatures of the various ground state phases in the presence of a trap.