Detecting π-phase superfluids with p-wave symmetry in a quasi-one-dimensional optical lattice

Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Physical Society
Abstract

We propose an experimental protocol to study p-wave superfluidity in a spin-polarized cold Fermi gas tuned by an s-wave Feshbach resonance. A crucial ingredient is to add a quasi-one-dimensional optical lattice and tune the fillings of two spins to the s and p band, respectively. The pairing order parameter is confirmed to inherit p-wave symmetry in its center-of-mass motion. We find that it can further develop into a state of unexpected π-phase modulation in a broad parameter regime. Experimental signatures are predicted in the momentum distributions, density of states, and spatial densities for a realistic experimental setup with a shallow trap. The π-phase p-wave superfluid is reminiscent of the π state in superconductor-ferromagnet heterostructures but differs in symmetry and physical origin. The spatially varying phases of the superfluid gap provide an approach to synthetic magnetic fields for neutral atoms. It would represent another example of p-wave pairing, first discovered in He3 liquids.

Description
Advisor
Degree
Type
Journal article
Keywords
Citation

Liu, Bo, Li, Xiaopeng, Hulet, Randall G., et al.. "Detecting π-phase superfluids with p-wave symmetry in a quasi-one-dimensional optical lattice." Physical Review A, 94, no. 3 (2016) American Physical Society: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.94.031602.

Has part(s)
Forms part of
Rights
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Link to license
Citable link to this page