Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is an essential mechanism underlying fundamental quantum phenomenon from spin Hall effect to topological insulators. Non-Hermitian physics exhibits counterintuitive behaviors that cannot exist in Hermitian systems. This thesis reports the realization of dissipative spin-orbit coupled band with ytterbium atoms, where the parity-time (PT) symmetry-breaking transition is observed resulting from the different dimensional regime of dissipation and SOC. Remarkably, the exceptional point (EP) and topological spin transfer are demonstrated both in theory and experiment.

The SOC system is investigated in the one dimensional (1D) Yb bulk systems. The coupling of momentum and atomic spin demonstrates the significant phenomenon by the two hallmarks. Non-Hermiticity is int...[ Read more ]

Spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is an essential mechanism underlying fundamental quantum phenomenon from spin Hall effect to topological insulators. Non-Hermitian physics exhibits counterintuitive behaviors that cannot exist in Hermitian systems. This thesis reports the realization of dissipative spin-orbit coupled band with ytterbium atoms, where the parity-time (PT) symmetry-breaking transition is observed resulting from the different dimensional regime of dissipation and SOC. Remarkably, the exceptional point (EP) and topological spin transfer are demonstrated both in theory and experiment.

The SOC system is investigated in the one dimensional (1D) Yb bulk systems. The coupling of momentum and atomic spin demonstrates the significant phenomenon by the two hallmarks. Non-Hermiticity is introduced into the spin-orbit-coupled ultra-cold fermions by controllable spin dependent dissipation. Such dissipation enables the energy gap to be engineered and closed at exceptional points.

Topological states transfer is another interesting characterization in non-Hermitian physics. Dynamically varying system parameters along a path near exceptional point is known to lead to chiral mode conversion. This topological structure around EP is studied and spin transfer is observed.

Finally yet importantly, as the saying goes, ”More is different.” Bosonization in a SU(N) fermionic ytterbium gas with tunable N in three dimensions and collective excitations of a harmonically trapped two dimensional gases are explored in other two works.