Bulk density signatures of a lattice quasihole with very few particles

Motivated by the recent experimental realization of a two-particle fractional quantum Hall state of ultracold atoms in a small optical lattice [Nature 619, 495 (2023)], we propose a minimal setup to create and observe a quasihole in such a system. Adding a single-site repulsive potential to pin the quasihole and superimposing a harmonic trap on top of the optical lattice to keep the particles away from the system edge, we determine via exact diagonalization an optimal range for system parameters such as the magnetic flux and the strengths of the additional potentials that would favour the creation of the quasihole state. We suggest that clear signatures of such a state with two or three particles can be obtained through a standard density measurement.Comment: 4.5+3 page