Data-driven methods of machine learning (ML) have attracted a lot of interest in various fields of physics. Inverse design and optimisation of structured optical metamaterials such as photonic crystals, metasurfaces, and other nanostructured components seem to benefit a lot from this approach in the nearest future. Here we develop several approaches to use ML methods to predict and optimise properties of photonic crystals (e.g. size of bandgaps) effectively. We use a dataset of 2D photonic crystals produced recently in [T.Christinsen et al., Nanophotonics 9, 4183 (2020)]. For improving performance of predictive models, we apply symmetry-aware augmentations and hybrid ML-solver approaches. As a result, considerable improvement in prediction accu-racy could be achieved as compared to baseline models. For generative models, we apply variational autoen-coders (VAEs) combined with predictor architecture, inspired by related works in chemical design realm. By using latent space optimisation, we achieve good results in the task of increasing bandgaps of photonic struc-tures. The approach seems to be very promising and can be extended to 3D geometries.

Nonlinear phononics play important role in strong laser-solid interactions. We discuss a dynamical protocol for efficient phonon excitation, considering recent inspiring proposals: inducing ferroelectricity in paraelectric perovskites, and inducing structural deformations in cuprates [Subedi et al., Phys. Rev. B89, 220301(R) (2014); 95, 134113 (2017)]. High-frequency phonon modes are driven by midinfrared pulses, and coupled to lower-frequency modes those indirect excitations cause structural deformations. We study in more detail the case of KTaO3 without strain, where it was not possible to excite the needed low-frequency phonon mode by resonant driving of the higher frequency one. Behavior of the system is explained using a reduced model of coupled driven nonlinear oscillators. We find a dynamical mechanism which prevents effective excitation at resonance driving. To induce ferroelectricity, we employ driving with sweeping frequency, realizing so-called capture into resonance. The method can be applied to many other related systems.

We study dynamics of fermions loaded in an optical lattice with a superimposed parabolic trap potential. In the recent Hamburg experiments [J.Heinze et.al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 085302 (2013)] on quantum simulation of photoconductivity, a modulation pulse on the optical lattice transferred part of the population of the lowest band to an excited band, leaving a hole in the particle distribution of the lowest band. Subsequent intricate dynamics of both excited particles and holes can be explained by a semiclassical approach based on the evolution of Wigner function. Here we provide a more detailed analysis of the dynamics taking into account the dimensionality of the system and finite temperature effects, aiming at reproducing experimental results on longer timescales. A semiclassical wave packet is constructed more accurately than in the previous theory. As a result, semiclassical dynamics indeed reproduces experimental data and full quantum numerical calculations with much better accuracy. In particular, fascinating phenomenon of collapse and revival of holes is investigated in a more detail. We presume the experimental setup can be used for deeper exploration of nonlinear waves in fermionic gases.

We study the dynamics of fermions loaded in an optical lattice with a superimposed parabolic trap potential. In the recent Hamburg experiments [J. Heinze et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 085302 (2013)] on quantum simulation of photoconductivity, a modulation pulse on the optical lattice transferred part of the population of the lowest band to an excited band, leaving a hole in the particle distribution of the lowest band. The subsequent intricate dynamics of both excited particles and holes can be explained by a semiclassical approach based on the evolution of the Wigner function. Here we provide a more detailed analysis of the dynamics, taking into account the dimensionality of the system and finite-temperature effects, aiming at reproducing experimental results on longer time scales. A semiclassical wave packet is constructed more accurately than in the previous theory. As a result, semiclassical dynamics indeed reproduces experimental data and full quantum numerical calculations with a much better accuracy. In particular, the fascinating phenomenon of collapse and revival of holes is investigated in more detail. We presume that the experimental setup can be used for deeper exploration of nonlinear waves in fermionic gases.

We consider 1D lattices described by Hubbard or Bose-Hubbard models, in the presence of periodic high-frequency perturbations, such as uniform ac force or modulation of hopping coefficients. Effective Hamiltonians for interacting particles are derived using an averaging method resembling classical canonical perturbation theory. As is known, a high-frequency force may renormalize hopping coefficients, causing interesting phenomena such as coherent destruction of tunneling and creation of artificial gauge fields. We find explicitly additional corrections to the effective Hamiltonians due to interactions, corresponding to nontrivial processes such as single-particle density-dependent tunneling, correlated pair hoppings, nearest neighbor interactions, etc. Some of these processes arise also in multiband lattice models, and are capable of giving rise to a rich variety of quantum phases. The apparent contradiction with other methods, e.g., Floquet-Magnus expansion, is explained. The results may be useful for designing effective Hamiltonian models in experiments with ultracold atoms, as well as in the field of ultrafast nonequilibrium magnetism. An example of manipulating exchange interaction in a Mott-Hubbard insulator is considered, where our corrections play an essential role.

We consider a single particle tunnelling in a tight-binding model with nearest-neighbour couplings, in the presence of a periodic high-frequency force. An effective Hamiltonian for the particle is derived using an averaging method resembling classical canonical perturbation theory. Three cases are considered: uniform lattice with periodic and open boundary conditions, and lattice with a parabolic potential. We find that in the latter case, interplay of the potential and driving leads to appearance of the effective next-nearest neighbour couplings. In the uniform case with periodic boundary conditions the second- and third-order corrections to the averaged Hamiltonian are completely absent, while in the case with open boundary conditions they have a very simple form, found before in some particular cases by S. Longhi (2008) [10]. These general results may found applications in designing effective Hamiltonian models in experiments with ultracold atoms in optical lattices, e.g. for simulating solid-state phenomena.

Quantum gases in optical lattices offer a well-controlled and defect free environment to simulate and study phenomena from condensed matter physics. In particular, questions related to conductivity and charge carrier mobility lie at the heart of the properties of many fascinating materials like superconductors, graphene and semiconductors. The latter become conductive if irradiated with photons. This effect is called photoconductivity and results from photon-induced interband transitions of electrons, leading to the creation of electron and hole excitations, which subsequently serve as free charge carriers. Photoconductivity is widely used in technological applications such as semiconductor photodiodes and photoresistors and as a powerful probe for novel materials.

We report on the experimental observation of an analog to a persistent alternating photocurrent in an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice. The dynamics is induced and sustained by an external harmonic confinement. While particles in the excited band exhibit long-lived oscillations with a momentum-dependent frequency, a strikingly different behavior is observed for holes in the lowest band. An initial fast collapse is followed by subsequent periodic revivals. Both observations are fully explained by mapping the system onto a nonlinear pendulum.

We consider a slowly rotating rectangular billiard with moving boundaries and use canonical perturbation theory to describe the dynamics of a billiard particle. In the process of slow evolution, certain resonance conditions can be satisfied. Correspondingly, phenomena of scattering on a resonance and capture into a resonance happen in the system. These phenomena lead to destruction of adiabatic invariance and to unlimited acceleration of the particle.

We analyze the dynamics of a classical particle in a spatially periodic potential under the influence of a periodic in time uniform force. It was shown by S. Flach and coworkers [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 2358 (2000)] that despite zero average force, directed transport is possible in the system. Asymptotic description of this phenomenon for the case of slow driving was developed by X. Leoncini and coworkers [Phys. Rev. E 79, 026213 (2009)]. Here we consider the case of fast driving using the canonical perturbation theory. An asymptotic formula is derived for the average drift velocity as a function of the system parameters and the driving law. We show that directed transport arises in an effective Hamiltonian that does not possess chaotic dynamics, thereby clarifying the relation between chaos and transport in the system. Sufficient conditions for transport are derived.

We analyze the spectrum of the three-site Bose-Hubbard model with periodic boundary conditions using a semiclassical method. The Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization is applied to an effective classical Hamiltonian which we derive using resonance normal form theory. The derivation takes into account the 1: 1 resonance between frequencies of a linearized classical system and brings nonlinear terms into a corresponding normal form. The obtained expressions reproduce the exact low-energy spectrum of the system remarkably well even for a small number of particles N corresponding to fillings of just two particles per site. Such small fillings are often used in current experiments, and it is inspiring to get insight into this quantum regime using essentially classical calculations.

We consider dynamics of a slowly time-dependent Dicke model, which represents a many-body generalization of the Landau-Zener model. In particular, the model describes narrow Feshbach resonance passage in an ultracold gas of Fermi atoms. Adiabaticity is destroyed when a parameter crosses a critical value, even at very slow sweeping rates of a parameter. The dynamics crucially depends on direction of the sweep. We apply our recent analysis (A. P. Itin and P. Torma, e-print arXiv:0901.4778) to the "inverse" sweep through the resonance, corresponding (in a context of Feshbach resonance passage) to dissociation of molecules. On a level of the mean-field approximation, the dynamics is equivalent to a molecular condensate formation from Bose atoms within a two-mode model. Mapping the system to a Painleve equation allows us to calculate deviation from adiabaticity at very slow sweeps analytically.

Formation of stationary three-dimensional (3D) wave patterns generated by a small pointlike impurity moving through a Bose-Einstein condensate with supersonic velocity is studied. Asymptotic formulae for a stationary far-field density distribution are obtained. Comparison with the three-dimensional numerical simulations demonstrates that these formulae are accurate enough already at the distances from the obstacle equal to a few wavelengths.

We consider dynamics of Dicke models, with and without counterrotating terms, under slow variations of parameters which drive the system through a quantum phase transition. The model without counterrotating terms and sweeped detuning is seen in the contexts of a many-body generalization of the Landau-Zener model and the dynamical passage through a second-order quantum phase transition (QPT). Adiabaticity is destroyed when the parameter crosses a critical value. Applying semiclassical analysis based on concepts of classical adiabatic invariants and mapping to the second Painleve equation (PII), we derive a formula which accurately describes particle distributions in the Hilbert space at wide range of parameters and initial conditions of the system. We find striking universal features in the particle distributions which can be probed in an experiment on Feshbach resonance passage or a cavity QED experiment. The dynamics is found to be crucially dependent on the direction of the sweep. The model with counterrotating terms has been realized recently in an experiment with ultracold atomic gases in a cavity. Its semiclassical dynamics is described by a Hamiltonian system with two degrees of freedom. Passage through a QPT corresponds to passage through a bifurcation, and can also be described by PII (after averaging over fast variables), leading to similar universal distributions. Under certain conditions, the Dicke model is reduced to the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model.

We study dynamics of a nonlinear three-level Lambda system describing Bose-Einstein condensates of atoms and diatomic molecules coupled by a two-color laser field. The system has a nonlinear dark state which is a generalization of the usual atomic dark state. In the recent paper [A. P. Itin and S. Watanabe, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 223903 (2007)], nonlinear instabilities of the dark state due to 1:1 and 1:2 resonances were discussed in the model without mean-field collisional interactions. Here we investigate the dark state of a model with collisional interactions. We show that nonlinear instabilities can be used, in particular, for precise determination of the scattering lengths.