Topological charge pumping in a one-dimensional optical lattice

Abstract: A topological charge pump [1] transfers charge in a quantized fashion. The quantization is stable against the detailed form of the pumping protocols and external noises and shares the same topological origin as the quantum Hall effect. We propose an experiment setup to realize topological charge pumping of cold atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The quantization of the pumped charge is confirmed by first-principle simulations of the dynamics of uniform and trapped systems. Quantum effects are shown to be crucial for the topological protection of the charge quantization. Finite-temperature and non-adiabatic effect on the experimental observables are discussed. Realization of such a topological charge pump servers as a firm step towards exploring topological states and non-equilibrium dynamics using cold atoms.