Orbital ordering of ultracold alkaline-earth atoms in optical lattices

Abstract

We report on a dynamical mean-field theoretical analysis of emerging low-temperature phases in multicomponent gases of fermionic alkaline-earth(-like) atoms in state-dependent optical lattices. Using the example of 173 Yb atoms, we show that a two-orbital mixture with two nuclear spin components is a promising candidate for studies of not only magnetic but also staggered orbital ordering peculiar to certain solid-state materials. We calculate and study the phase diagram of the full Hamiltonian with parameters similar to existing experiments and reveal an antiferroorbital phase. This long-range-ordered phase is inherently stable, and we analyze the change of local and global observables across the corresponding transition lines, paving the way for experimental observations. Furthermore, we suggest a realistic extension of the system to include and probe a Jahn-Teller source field playing one of the key roles in real crystals.