Ultracold atoms achieve fractional quantum Hall and Laughlin states

Researchers have realized a fractional quantum Hall state with ultracold atoms in an optical lattice, which is a lattice version of a bosonic ν = 1/2 Laughlin state with two particles on 16 sites. The state exhibits many hallmark features of Laughlin-type FQH states, including a suppression of two-body interactions, a distinctive vortex structure in the density correlations, and a fractional Hall conductivity of σH/σ0 = 0.6(2) by means of the bulk response to a magnetic perturbation. This work provides a starting point for exploring highly entangled topological matter with ultracold atoms.