Preparing and probing Chern bands with cold atoms

The present Chapter discusses methods by which topological Bloch bands can be prepared in cold-atom setups. Focusing on the case of Chern bands for two-dimensional systems, we describe how topological properties can be triggered by driving atomic gases, either by dressing internal levels with light or through time-periodic modulations. We illustrate these methods with concrete examples, and we discuss recent experiments where geometrical and topological band properties have been identified.
Comment: 27 pages, 5 figures. Contribution to the book "Universal Themes of Bose-Einstein Condensation", edited by D.W. Snoke, N.P. Proukakis and P.B. Littlewood (Cambridge University Press). As submitted to the Editors on March 2nd 2015