Simulation of the Laughlin state in an optical lattice

Abstract: We analyze the proposal of achieving a Mott state of Laughlin wave functions in an optical lattice [M. Popp {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. A 70, 053612 (2004)] and study the consequences of considering the anharmonic corrections to each single site potential expansion that were not taken into account until now. Our result is that, although the anharmonic correction reduces the maximum frequency at which the system can rotate before the atoms escape from each site (centrifugal limit), the Laughlin state can still be achieved for a small number of particles and a realistic value of the laser intensity.