Gain engineering and atom lasing in a topological edge state in synthetic dimensions

Recent advances in quantum technology have highlighted the importance of controlling quantum states, especially in open quantum systems, where the system interacts with the environment. Non-Hermitian quantum mechanics describes these systems. Photonic systems are a key platform for studying non-Hermitian quantum mechanics owing to their ability to engineer gain and loss. Ultracold atomic gases also have been used to study non-Hermitian quantum mechanics; however, unlike photonics, gain control is challenging, limiting exploration to control of loss. In this paper, we report engineering of effective gain through evaporative cooling of judiciously selected initial thermal atoms, leading to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) in the excited eigenstates of a synthetic lattice. We achieve BEC formation in a topological edge state of the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattice in the synthetic hyperfine lattice, akin to atomic laser oscillations at a topological edge mode, that is, a topological atom laser.