Synthetic gauge field

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Synthetic gauge fields are artificial forces created in ultracold atom experiments to control how atoms move. They often act like an electromagnetic field, guiding the atoms with magnetic or electric effects. This can be achieved by spinning the quantum gas (the Coriolis force plays the role of the Lorentz force) or by using lasers to give the atoms a spatially varying phase. Recently, researchers are exploring dynamical synthetic gauge fields—fields that respond to the atoms themselves—with the goal of simulating problems from high-energy physics and the Standard Model.