Out-of-equilibrium expansion dynamics of dipolar atoms in an optical lattice
Phys. Rev. A 113, 063312 – Published 9 June, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/t5bl-tls6
Abstract
We investigate the nonequilibrium expansion dynamics of dipolar bosons and fermions in finite one-dimensional lattice systems employing the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree method, which enables a numerically exact treatment of full many-body correlations, quantum fragmentation, and long-range interaction effects. By explicitly accounting for the interplay between quantum statistics, particle number, and long-range interactions, we uncover distinct dynamical regimes characterized by the emergence of coherent central high-density structures, near-ballistic expansion, and interaction-induced slowing down, as well as robust self-trapped states. Our analysis reveals that particle statistics fundamentally reshape the expansion dynamics: while bosonic systems exhibit correlation-induced fragmentation and interaction-driven slowing down, fermionic counterparts display markedly different transport behavior governed by Pauli blocking and exchange correlations. Furthermore, increasing particle number enhances correlation effects and amplifies the impact of long-range interactions, leading to nontrivial redistribution of density and coherence across the lattice. These findings demonstrate that beyond-mean-field correlations and the intrinsic nonlocality of dipolar interactions are essential for accurately describing expansion and transport in finite lattice geometries. Our results provide clear signatures of correlation-driven dynamical phenomena and establish finite dipolar systems as a versatile platform for probing nonequilibrium quantum many-body physics.
