A Quantum Simulator for condensed matter physics: Ultracold fermionic atoms in optical lattices
Uli Schneider (Universität Mainz)

Fermionic atoms in optical lattices can serve as a Quantum Simulator for solid state physics, because they implement the Hubbard hamiltonian, which is one of the foundations of modern condensed matter physics.

The combination of an in-situ imaging technique and a very flexible lattice setup allowed us to experimentally study ultracold fermions in different regimes.
We could observe and identify different many-body states ranging from noninteracting metals and band insulators to the fermionic Mott Insulator for repulsivly interacting fermions.
In the case of attractive interactions we found a regime of anomalous expansion, where the cloud size grows with increasing attraction between the atoms.
In addition, recent results on the dynamical properties of fermions in optical lattices will be presented.