Using an optical potential with subwavelength resolution in the form of sharp $\delta$-like peaks, potential landscapes are created with increased anharmonicity in placement of lattice band energies and more favorable energy scales. In particular, this makes the ultracold atom $p$-band gas more stable. The article outlines the details of the construction and discusses the $p$-band stability in a canonical cosine optical lattice potential, double-well potential, and a combination of a classical cosine potential with dark state peaked potential.

• Received 8 December 2020
• Revised 13 April 2021
• Accepted 21 April 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.103.053301