Topological chiral edge states are a fundamental feature of quantum Hall systems, where they enable robust, unidirectional transport at system boundaries. Experimental realizations in ultracold atomic systems have leveraged synthetic dimensions—where internal atomic states are coupled to mimic an additional spatial dimension—but have so far been restricted to relatively small system sizes with fixed boundaries.

In this work, conducted in collaboration with the Birmingham group led by Prof. Hannah Price, we propose a new approach using a synthetic dimension formed by atomic trap states, allowing for the realization of a large quantum Hall system with tunable edges. We present numerical simulations demonstrating the existence and robustness of these edge states under experimentally relevant conditions, including the effects of defects. This scheme provides a scalable platform for investigating topological physics in synthetic dimensions and offers new possibilities for controlling highly excited trap states in atomic systems.

Read the article on PRA.