Tight-binding models in a quasiperiodic optical lattice

Abstract

This paper describes how one can use four standing wave laser fields to realize a two dimensional optical quasicrystal with eight-fold symmetry, closely related to the well-known octagonal or Ammann-Beenker tiling quasicrystal. We describe the structure and its properties, and the effective tight-binding model for atoms in this optical quasicrystal. Such a system, if realized experimentally, should provide valuable insights into the quantum properties of quasicrystals.