Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 110401 (2007) [4 pages]Transition from a Two-Dimensional Superfluid to a One-Dimensional Mott InsulatorReceived 22 January 2007; revised 21 June 2007; published 12 September 2007 A two-dimensional system of atoms in an anisotropic optical lattice is studied theoretically. If the system is finite in one direction, it is shown to exhibit a transition between a two-dimensional superfluid and a one-dimensional Mott insulating chain of superfluid tubes. Monte Carlo simulations are consistent with the expectation that the phase transition is of Kosterlitz-Thouless type. The effect of the transition on experimental time-of-flight images is discussed. © 2007 The American Physical Society URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.110401
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.110401
PACS:
05.30.Jp, 03.75.Lm, 67.90.+z
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