Probing Half-odd Topological Number with Cold Atoms in a Non-Abelian Optical Lattice

Abstract

We propose an experimental scheme to probe the contribution of a single Dirac cone to the Hall conductivity as half-odd topological number sequence. In our scheme, the quantum anomalous Hall effect as in graphene is simulated with cold atoms trapped in an optical lattice and subjected to a laser-induced non-Abelian gauge field. By tuning the laser intensity to change the gauge flux, the energies of the four Dirac points in the first Brillouin zone are shifted with each other and the contribution of the single Dirac cone to the total atomic Hall conductivity is manifested. We also show such manifestation can be experimentally probed with atomic density profile measurements.