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High-temperature atomic superfluidity in lattice Bose-Fermi mixtures.
Illuminati, Fabrizio; Albus, Alexander
We consider atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices and study the superfluidity of fermionic atoms due to s-wave pairing induced by boson-fermion interactions. We prove that the induced fermion-fermion coupling is always attractive if the boson-boson on-site interaction is repulsive, and predict the existence of an enhanced BEC-BCS crossover as the strength of the lattice potential is varied. We show that for direct on-site fermion-fermion repulsion, the induced attraction can give rise to superfluidity via s-wave pairing at striking variance with the case of pure systems of fermionic atoms with direct repulsive interactions.
Two-band description of resonant superfluidity in atomic Fermi gases
He, Lianyi; Hu, Hui; Liu, Xia -Ji
Fermionic superfluidity in atomic Fermi gases across a Feshbach resonance is normally described by the atom-molecule theory, which treats the closed channel as a noninteracting point boson. In this work we present a theoretical description of the resonant superfluidity in analogy to the two-band superconductors. We employ the underlying two-channel scattering model of Feshbach resonance where the closed channel is treated as a composite boson with binding energy ε0 and the resonance is triggered by the microscopic interchannel coupling U12. The binding energy ε0 naturally serves as an energy scale of the system, which has been sent to infinity inmore » the atom-molecule theory. We show that the atom-molecule theory can be viewed as a leading-order low-energy effective theory of the underlying fermionic theory in the limit ε0→∞ and U12→0, while keeping the phenomenological atom-molecule coupling finite. The resulting two-band description of the superfluid state is in analogy to the BCS theory of two-band superconductors. In the dilute limit ε0→∞, the two-band description recovers precisely the atom-molecule theory. The two-band theory provides a natural approach to study the corrections because of a finite binding energy ε0 in realistic experimental systems. For broad and moderate resonances, the correction is not important for current experimental densities. However, for extremely narrow resonance, we find that the correction becomes significant. Lastly, the finite binding energy correction could be important for the stability of homogeneous polarized superfluid against phase separation in imbalanced Fermi gases across a narrow Feshbach resonance.« less
Two-band description of resonant superfluidity in atomic Fermi gases
He, Lianyi; Hu, Hui; Liu, Xia -Ji
Fermionic superfluidity in atomic Fermi gases across a Feshbach resonance is normally described by the atom-molecule theory, which treats the closed channel as a noninteracting point boson. In this work we present a theoretical description of the resonant superfluidity in analogy to the two-band superconductors. We employ the underlying two-channel scattering model of Feshbach resonance where the closed channel is treated as a composite boson with binding energy ε0 and the resonance is triggered by the microscopic interchannel coupling U12. The binding energy ε0 naturally serves as an energy scale of the system, which has been sent to infinity in the atom-molecule theory. We show that the atom-molecule theory can be viewed as a leading-order low-energy effective theory of the underlying fermionic theory in the limit ε0→∞ and U12→0, while keeping the phenomenological atom-molecule coupling finite. The resulting two-band description of the superfluid state is in analogy to the BCS theory of two-band superconductors. In the dilute limit ε0→∞, the two-band description recovers precisely the atom-molecule theory. The two-band theory provides a natural approach to study the corrections because of a finite binding energy ε0 in realistic experimental systems. For broad and moderate resonances, the correction is not important for current experimental densities. However, for extremely narrow resonance, we find that the correction becomes significant. Lastly, the finite binding energy correction could be important for the stability of homogeneous polarized superfluid against phase separation in imbalanced Fermi gases across a narrow Feshbach resonance.
Larkin-Ovchinnikov superfluidity in a two-dimensional imbalanced atomic Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Toniolo, Umberto; Mulkerin, Brendan; Liu, Xia-Ji; Hu, Hui
We present an extensive study of two-dimensional Larkin-Ovchinnikov (LO) superfluidity in a spin-imbalanced two-component atomic Fermi gas. In the context of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase, we explore a wide and generic class of pairing gap functions with explicit spatial dependency. The mean-field theory of such phases is applied through the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations in which the pairing gap can be determined self-consistently. To systematically explore the configuration space we consider both the canonical and grand canonical ensembles where we control the polarization or chemical potentials of the system, respectively. The mean-field calculations enable us to understand the nature of the phase transitions in the fully paired Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) state, exotic LO phase, and partially polarized free Fermi gas (NPP). The order of the phase transitions has been examined and, in particular, we find a weak first-order phase transition between the exotic inhomogeneous LO phase and the BCS phase. In comparison to the three-dimensional case, where the phase diagram is dominated by a generic separation phase, we predict a broader parameter space for the spatially inhomogeneous LO phase. By computing the superfluid density of the LO phase at different polarization, we show how the superfluidity of the system is suppressed with increasing spin polarization.
Probing the dynamic structure factor of a neutral Fermi superfluid along the BCS-BEC crossover using atomic impurity qubits
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mitchison, Mark T.; Johnson, Tomi H.; Jaksch, Dieter
We study an impurity atom trapped by an anharmonic potential, immersed within a cold atomic Fermi gas with attractive interactions that realizes the crossover from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superfluid to a Bose-Einstein condensate. Considering the qubit comprising the lowest two vibrational energy eigenstates of the impurity, we demonstrate that its dynamics probes the equilibrium density fluctuations encoded in the dynamic structure factor of the superfluid. Observing the impurity's evolution is thus shown to facilitate nondestructive measurements of the superfluid order parameter and the contact between collective and single-particle excitation spectra. Our setup constitutes a model of an open quantum system interacting with a thermal reservoir, the latter supporting both bosonic and fermionic excitations that are also coupled to each other.
Homogeneous Atomic Fermi Gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mukherjee, Biswaroop; Yan, Zhenjie; Patel, Parth B.; Hadzibabic, Zoran; Yefsah, Tarik; Struck, Julian; Zwierlein, Martin W.
We report on the creation of homogeneous Fermi gases of ultracold atoms in a uniform potential. In the momentum distribution of a spin-polarized gas, we observe the emergence of the Fermi surface and the saturated occupation of one particle per momentum state: the striking consequence of Pauli blocking in momentum space for a degenerate gas. Cooling a spin-balanced Fermi gas at unitarity, we create homogeneous superfluids and observe spatially uniform pair condensates. For thermodynamic measurements, we introduce a hybrid potential that is harmonic in one dimension and uniform in the other two. The spatially resolved compressibility reveals the superfluid transition in a spin-balanced Fermi gas, saturation in a fully polarized Fermi gas, and strong attraction in the polaronic regime of a partially polarized Fermi gas.
Density and spin linear response of atomic Fermi superfluids with population imbalance in the BCS-BEC crossover
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Guo, Hao; Li, Yang; He, Yan; Chien, Chih-Chun
We present a theoretical study of the density and spin (representing the two components) linear response of Fermi superfluids with tunable attractive interactions and population imbalance. In both linear response theories, we find that the fluctuations of the order parameter must be treated on equal footing with the gauge transformations associated with the symmetries of the Hamiltonian so that important constraints including various sum rules can be satisfied. Both theories can be applied to the whole BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover. The spin linear responses are qualitatively different with and without population imbalance because collective-mode effects from the fluctuations of the order parameter survive in the presence of population imbalance, even though the associated symmetry is not broken by the order parameter. Since a polarized superfluid becomes unstable at low temperatures in the weak and intermediate coupling regimes, we found that the density and spin susceptibilities diverge as the system approaches the unstable regime, but the emergence of phase separation preempts the divergence.
Towards quantum turbulence in cold atomic fermionic superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bulgac, Aurel; McNeil Forbes, Michael; Wlazłowski, Gabriel
Fermionic superfluids provide a new realization of quantum turbulence, accessible to both experiment and theory, yet relevant to phenomena from both cold atoms to nuclear astrophysics. In particular, the strongly interacting Fermi gas realized in cold-atom experiments is closely related to dilute neutron matter in neutron star crusts. Unlike the liquid superfluids 4He (bosons) and 3He (fermions), where quantum turbulence has been studied in laboratory for decades, superfluid Fermi gases stand apart for a number of reasons. They admit a rather reliable theoretical description based on density functional theory called the time-dependent superfluid local density approximation that describes both static and dynamic phenomena. Cold atom experiments demonstrate exquisite control over particle number, spin polarization, density, temperature, and interaction strength. Topological defects such as domain walls and quantized vortices, which lie at the heart of quantum turbulence, can be created and manipulated with time-dependent external potentials, and agree with the time-dependent theoretical techniques. While similar experimental and theoretical control exists for weakly interacting Bose gases, the unitary Fermi gas is strongly interacting. The resulting vortex line density is extremely high, and quantum turbulence may thus be realized in small systems where classical turbulence is suppressed. Fermi gases also permit the study of exotic superfluid phenomena such as the Larkin-Ovchinnikov-Fulde-Ferrell pairing mechanism for polarized superfluids which may give rise to 3D supersolids, and a pseudo-gap at finite temperatures that might affect the regime of classical turbulence. The dynamics associated with these phenomena has only started to be explored. Finally, superfluid mixtures have recently been realized, providing experimental access to phenomena like Andreev-Bashkin entrainment predicted decades ago. Superfluid Fermi gases thus provide a rich forum for addressing
Superfluid Thomas—Fermi approximation for trapped fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hernández, E. S.; Capuzzi, P.; Szybisz, L.
We present a generalization of fermionic fluiddynamics to the case of two trapped fermion species with a contact interaction. Within a mean field approximation, we derive coupled equations of motion for the particle densities, particle currents, and anomalous pair density. For an inhomogeneous system, the equilibrium situation with vanishing currents is described by a generalized Thomas-Fermi relation that includes the superfluid gap, together with a new nonlocal gap equation that replaces the usual BCS one. These equations are numericaly solved resorting to a local density approximation (LDA). Density and gap profiles are analyzed in terms of the scattering length, revealing that the current frame can exhibit microscopic details of quantum origin that are frequently absent in more macroscopic scenarios.
Establishing the Presence of Coherence in Atomic Fermi Superfluids: Spin-Flip and Spin-Preserving Bragg Scattering at Finite Temperatures
Guo Hao; Levin, K.; Chien, Chih-Chun
We show how in ultracold Fermi gases the difference between the finite temperature T structure factors, called S{sub -}({omega},q), associated with spin and density, reflects coherent order at all {omega}, q, k{sub F}a, and T. This observation can be exploited in two photon Bragg scattering experiments on gases which are subject to variable attractive interactions. Our calculations incorporate spin and particle number conservation laws which lead to compatibility at general T with two f-sum rules. Because of its generality a measurement of S{sub -}({omega},q) can be a qualitative, direct, in situ approach for establishing superfluid order.
Topological Superfluid in a Fermi-Bose Mixture with a High Critical Temperature
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, Zhigang; Bruun, G. M.
We show that a 2D spin-polarized Fermi gas immersed in a 3D Bose-Einstein condensate constitutes a very promising system for realizing a px+i py superfluid. The fermions attract each other via an induced interaction mediated by the bosons, and the resulting pairing is analyzed with retardation effects fully taken into account. This is further combined with Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) theory to obtain reliable results for the superfluid critical temperature. We show that both the strength and the range of the induced interaction can be tuned experimentally, which can be used to make the critical temperature approach the maximum value allowed by general BKT theory. Moreover, this is achieved while keeping the Fermi-Bose interaction weak so that three-body losses are small. Our results show that realizing a topological superfluid with atomic Fermi-Bose mixtures is within experimental reach.
Exciting Quantized Vortex Rings in a Superfluid Unitary Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bulgac, Aurel
In a recent article, Yefsah et al., Nature 499, 426 (2013) report the observation of an unusual quantum excitation mode in an elongated harmonically trapped unitary Fermi gas. After phase imprinting a domain wall, they observe collective oscillations of the superfluid atomic cloud with a period almost an order of magnitude larger than that predicted by any theory of domain walls, which they interpret as a possible new quantum phenomenon dubbed ``a heavy soliton'' with an inertial mass some 50 times larger than one expected for a domain wall. We present compelling evidence that this ``heavy soliton'' is instead a quantized vortex ring by showing that the main aspects of the experiment can be naturally explained within an extension of the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) to superfluid systems. The numerical simulations required the solution of some 260,000 nonlinear coupled time-dependent 3-dimensional partial differential equations and was implemented on 2048 GPUs on the Cray XK7 supercomputer Titan of the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility.
Superfluidity and collective modes in Rashba spin–orbit coupled Fermi gases
He, Lianyi; Huang, Xu-Guang
We present a theoretical study of the superfluidity and the corresponding collective modes in two-component atomic Fermi gases with s-wave attraction and synthetic Rashba spin–orbit coupling. The general effective action for the collective modes is derived from the functional path integral formalism. By tuning the spin–orbit coupling from weak to strong, the system undergoes a crossover from an ordinary BCS/BEC superfluid to a Bose–Einstein condensate of rashbons. We show that the properties of the superfluid density and the Anderson–Bogoliubov mode manifest this crossover. At large spin–orbit coupling, the superfluid density and the sound velocity become independent of the strength of the s-wave attraction. The two-body interaction among the rashbons is also determined. When a Zeeman field is turned on, the system undergoes quantum phase transitions to some exotic superfluid phases which are topologically nontrivial. For the two-dimensional system, the nonanalyticities of the thermodynamic functions and the sound velocity across the phase transition are related to the bulk gapless fermionic excitation which causes infrared singularities. The superfluid density and the sound velocity behave nonmonotonically: they are suppressed by the Zeeman field in the normal superfluid phase, but get enhanced in the topological superfluid phase. The three-dimensional system is also studied. -- Highlights: •The general effective action for Rashba spin–orbit coupled Fermi superfluids is derived. •The evolution of the collective modes manifests the BCS/BEC-rashbon crossover. •The superfluid properties are universal at large spin–orbit coupling. •The sound velocity behaves nonanalytically across the quantum phase transition.
Superfluidity and collective modes in Rashba spin-orbit coupled Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
He, Lianyi; Huang, Xu-Guang
We present a theoretical study of the superfluidity and the corresponding collective modes in two-component atomic Fermi gases with s-wave attraction and synthetic Rashba spin-orbit coupling. The general effective action for the collective modes is derived from the functional path integral formalism. By tuning the spin-orbit coupling from weak to strong, the system undergoes a crossover from an ordinary BCS/BEC superfluid to a Bose-Einstein condensate of rashbons. We show that the properties of the superfluid density and the Anderson-Bogoliubov mode manifest this crossover. At large spin-orbit coupling, the superfluid density and the sound velocity become independent of the strength of the s-wave attraction. The two-body interaction among the rashbons is also determined. When a Zeeman field is turned on, the system undergoes quantum phase transitions to some exotic superfluid phases which are topologically nontrivial. For the two-dimensional system, the nonanalyticities of the thermodynamic functions and the sound velocity across the phase transition are related to the bulk gapless fermionic excitation which causes infrared singularities. The superfluid density and the sound velocity behave nonmonotonically: they are suppressed by the Zeeman field in the normal superfluid phase, but get enhanced in the topological superfluid phase. The three-dimensional system is also studied.
Cooling and thermometry of atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Onofrio, R.
We review the status of cooling techniques aimed at achieving the deepest quantum degeneracy for atomic Fermi gases. We first discuss some physics motivations, providing a quantitative assessment of the need for deep quantum degeneracy in relevant physics cases, such as the search for unconventional superfluid states. Attention is then focused on the most widespread technique to reach deep quantum degeneracy for Fermi systems, sympathetic cooling of Bose - Fermi mixtures, organizing the discussion according to the specific species involved. Various proposals to circumvent some of the limitations on achieving the deepest Fermi degeneracy, and their experimental realizations, are then reviewed. Finally, we discuss the extension of these techniques to optical lattices and the implementation of precision thermometry crucial to the understanding of the phase diagram of classical and quantum phase transitions in Fermi gases.
Dark-bright solitons in a superfluid Bose-Fermi mixture
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tylutki, Marek; Recati, Alessio; Dalfovo, Franco; Stringari, Sandro
The recent experimental realisation of Bose-Fermi superfluid mixtures of dilute ultracold atomic gases has opened new perspectives in the study of quantum many-body systems. Depending on the values of the scattering lengths and the amount of bosons and fermions, a uniform Bose-Fermi mixture is predicted to exhibit a fully mixed phase, a fully separated phase or, in addition, a purely fermionic phase coexisting with a mixed phase. The occurrence of this intermediate configuration has interesting consequences when the system is nonuniform. In this work we theoretically investigate the case of solitonic solutions of coupled Bogoliubov-de Gennes and Gross-Pitaevskii equations for the fermionic and bosonic components, respectively. We show that, in the partially separated phase, a dark soliton in Fermi superfluid is accompanied by a broad bosonic component in the soliton, forming a dark-bright soliton which keeps full spatial coherence.
Low-temperature thermodynamics of the unitary Fermi gas: Superfluid fraction, first sound, and second sound
Salasnich, Luca
We investigate the low-temperature thermodynamics of the unitary Fermi gas by introducing a model based on the zero-temperature spectra of both bosonic collective modes and fermonic single-particle excitations. We calculate the Helmholtz free energy and from it we obtain the entropy, the internal energy, and the chemical potential as a function of the temperature. By using these quantities and the Landau's expression for the superfluid density we determine analytically the superfluid fraction, the critical temperature, the first sound velocity, and the second sound velocity. We compare our analytical results with other theoretical predictions and experimental data of ultracold atoms and dilute neutron matter.
Superfluidity of heated Fermi systems in the static fluctuation approximation
Khamzin, A. A.; Nikitin, A. S.; Sitdikov, A. S.
Superfluidity properties of heated finite Fermi systems are studied in the static fluctuation approximation, which is an original method. This method relies on a single and controlled approximation, which permits taking correctly into account quasiparticle correlations and thereby going beyond the independent-quasiparticle model. A closed self-consistent set of equations for calculating correlation functions at finite temperature is obtained for a finite Fermi system described by the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer Hamiltonian. An equation for the energy gap is found with allowance for fluctuation effects. It is shown that the phase transition to the supefluid state is smeared upon the inclusion of fluctuations.
Radioactive Ions and Atoms in Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dendooven, P.; Purushothaman, S.; Gloos, K.; ńystö, J.; Takahashi, N.; Huang, W. X.
We are investigating the use of superfluid helium as a medium to handle and manipulate radioactive ions and atoms. Preliminary results on the extraction of positive ions from superfluid helium at temperatures close to 1 K are described. Increasing the electric field up to 1.2 kV/cm did not improve the extraction. Evaporating a thin surface layer of the liquid using second-sound pulses gave an extraction efficiency of 7.2 %.
Observation of Coupled Vortex Lattices in a Mass-Imbalance Bose and Fermi Superfluid Mixture.
Yao, Xing-Can; Chen, Hao-Ze; Wu, Yu-Ping; Liu, Xiang-Pei; Wang, Xiao-Qiong; Jiang, Xiao; Deng, Youjin; Chen, Yu-Ao; Pan, Jian-Wei
Quantized vortices play an essential role in diverse superfluid phenomena. In a Bose-Fermi superfluid mixture, especially of two mass-imbalance species, such macroscopic quantum phenomena are particularly rich due to the interplay between the Bose and Fermi superfluidity. However, generating a Bose-Fermi two-species superfluid, producing coupled vortex lattices within, and further probing interspecies interaction effects remain challenging. Here, we experimentally realize a two-species superfluid with dilute gases of lithium-6 and potassium-41, having a mass ratio of about seven. By rotating the superfluid mixture, we simultaneously produce coupled vortex lattices of the two species and thus present a definitive visual evidence for the double superfluidity. Moreover, we report several unconventional behaviors, due to the Bose-Fermi interaction, on the formation and decay of two-species vortices.
Critical Zeeman splitting of a unitary Fermi superfluid
He Lianyi; Zhuang Pengfei
We determine the critical Zeeman energy splitting of a homogeneous Fermi superfluid at unitary in terms of the Fermi energy {epsilon}{sub F} according to recent experimental results in Laboratoire Kastler Brossel (LKB)-Lhomond. Based on the universal equations of state for the superfluid and normal phases, we show that there exist two critical fields H{sub c1} and H{sub c2}, between which a superfluid-normal mixed phase is energetically favored. Universal formulas for the critical fields and the critical population imbalance P{sub c} are derived. We have found a universal relation between the critical fields and the critical imbalances: H{sub c1}={gamma}{xi}{epsilon}{sub F} and H{sub c2}=(1+{gamma}P{sub c}){sup 2/3}H{sub c1}, where {xi} is the universal constant and {gamma} is the critical value of the chemical potential imbalance in the grand canonical ensemble. Since {xi}, {gamma}, and P{sub c} have been measured in the experiments, we can determine the critical Zeeman fields without the detailed information of the equation of state for the polarized normal phase. Using the experimental data from LKB-Lhomond, we have found H{sub c1{approx_equal}}0.37{epsilon}{sub F} and H{sub c2{approx_equal}}0.44{epsilon}{sub F}. Our result of the polarization P as a function of the Zeeman field H/{epsilon}{sub F} is in good agreement with the data extracted from the experiments. We also give an estimation of the critical magnetic field for dilute neutron matter at which the matter gets spin polarized, assuming the properties of the dilute neutron matter are close to those of the unitary Fermi gas.
Higgs Mode in a Trapped Superfluid Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tokimoto, Jun; Tsuchiya, Shunji; Nikuni, Tetsuro
In quantum many-body systems with spontaneous breaking of a continuous symmetry, Higgs modes emerge as collective amplitude oscillations of order parameters. Recently, Higgs modes have been observed in superconductors and in Bose gases in optical lattices. However, it has yet to be observed in Fermi gases. In the present paper, we use the time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations to investigate Higgs amplitude oscillations of the superfluid order parameter in a trapped Fermi gas induced by a sudden changes of the { s} -wave scattering length. In particular, we investigate the Higgs mode with different values of the initial scattering length and discuss how the frequency and damping of the Higgs mode changes around the unitarity regime.
Dynamic structure factor of a strongly correlated Fermi superfluid within a density functional theory approach
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zou, Peng; Dalfovo, Franco; Sharma, Rishi; Liu, Xia-Ji; Hu, Hui
We theoretically investigate the dynamic structure factor of a strongly interacting Fermi gas at the crossover from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer superfluids to Bose-Einstein condensates, by developing an improved random phase approximation within the framework of a density functional theory (DFT)—the so-called superfluid local density approximation. Compared with the previous random-phase-approximation studies based on the standard Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations, the use of the DFT greatly improves the accuracy of the equation of state at the crossover, and leads to a better description of both collective Bogoliubov-Anderson-Goldstone phonon mode and single-particle fermionic excitations at small transferred momentum. Near unitarity, where the s-wave scattering length diverges, we show that the single-particle excitations start to significantly contribute to the spectrum of dynamic structure factor once the frequency is above a threshold of the energy gap at 2{{Δ }}. The sharp rise in the spectrum at this threshold can be utilized to measure the pairing gap Δ. Together with the sound velocity determined from the phonon branch, the dynamic structure factor provides us some key information of the crossover Fermi superfluid. Our predictions could be examined in experiments with 6Li or 40K atoms using Bragg spectroscopy.
Observation of hydrodynamic expansion in a strongly-interacting Fermi gas: Signature of superfluidity?
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
O'Hara, K. M.; Hemmer, S. L.; Gehm, M. E.; Thomas, J. E.
Atomic Fermi gases with magnetically tunable, strong interactions provide a desktop laboratory for exploring new nonperturbative theories in systems ranging from superconductors to neutron stars. We use all-optical methods to produce a highly degenerate, two-component gas of ^6Li atoms in an applied magnetic field (910 G) near a Feshbach resonance where strong interactions are observed [1]. The s-wave scattering length is estimated to be a_S=-10^4 a_0, which is large compared to the interparticle spacing. Exciting new predictions for this regime include unitarity-limited universal interactions [2] and the onset of resonance superfluidity at a very high transition temperature [3-5]. Forced evaporation is accomplished by lowering the trap laser intensity over a period of 3.5 seconds and then recompressing the trap to full depth. Abrupt release of the cloud at 910 G results in a highly anisotropic expansion, where the gas expands rapidly in the transverse directions while remaining nearly stationary in the axial direction [1]. This anisotropic energy release has been predicted recently to be a signature of superfluidity in a Fermi gas [6]. We will discuss interpretations of the data in terms of superfluidity and unitarity-limited collision dynamics. References 1. K. M. O'Hara et al., Science, 298, 2179 (2002). 2. H. Heiselberg, Phys. Rev. A 63, 043606 (2001). 3. M. Holland, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 120406 (2001). 4. E. Timmermans, et al., Phys. Lett. A 285, 228 (2001). 5. Y. Ohashi and A. Griffin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 130402 (2002). 6. C. Menotti, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 250402 (2002).
Vortex lattices in a rotating Fermi superfluid in the BCS-BEC crossover with many Landau levels
Song, Tie-ling; Ma, C.R.; Ma, Yong-li
We present an explicit analytical analysis of the ground state of vortex lattice structure, based on a minimization of the generalized Gross-Pitaevskii energy functional in a trapped rotating Fermi superfluid gas. By a Bogoliubov-like transformation we find that the coarse-grained average of the atomic density varies as inverted parabola in three dimensional cases; the Fermi superfluid in the BEC regime enters into the lowest Landau level at fast rotation, in which the vortices form an almost regular triangular lattice over a central region and the vortex lattice is expanded along the radial direction in the outer region; the fluid in the unitarity and BCS regimes occupies many low-lying Landau levels, in which a trapped gas with a triangular vortex lattice has a superfluid core surrounded by a normal gas. The calculation is qualitatively consistent with recent numerical and experimental data both in the vortex lattice structure and vortex numbers and in the density profiles versus the stirring frequency in the whole BCS-BEC crossover. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We present an analysis of vortex lattice in an interacting trapped rotating Fermi superfluid gas. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Decomposing the vortex from the condensate, we can explain the vortex lattice. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The calculation is consistent with numerical and experimental data. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer It can characterize experimentally properties in different regimes of the BCS-BEC crossover.
Cascade of Solitonic Excitations in a Superfluid Fermi gas: From Planar Solitons to Vortex Rings and Lines
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ku, Mark J. H.; Mukherjee, Biswaroop; Yefsah, Tarik; Zwierlein, Martin W.
We follow the time evolution of a superfluid Fermi gas of resonantly interacting 6 atoms after a phase imprint. Via tomographic imaging, we observe the formation of a planar dark soliton, its subsequent snaking, and its decay into a vortex ring, which, in turn, breaks to finally leave behind a single solitonic vortex. In intermediate stages, we find evidence for an exotic structure resembling the Φ soliton, a combination of a vortex ring and a vortex line. Direct imaging of the nodal surface reveals its undulation dynamics and its decay via the puncture of the initial soliton plane. The observed evolution of the nodal surface represents dynamics beyond superfluid hydrodynamics, calling for a microscopic description of unitary fermionic superfluids out of equilibrium.
A Novel Route to Reach a p-Wave Superfluid Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yamaguchi, Tokitake; Inotani, Daisuke; Ohashi, Yoji
We theoretically propose an idea to realize a p-wave superfluid Fermi gas. To overcome the experimental difficulty that a p-wave pairing interaction to form p-wave Cooper pairs damages the system before the condensation growth, we first prepare a p-wave pair amplitude (Φp) in a spin-orbit coupled s-wave superfluid Fermi gas, without any p-wave interaction. Then, by suddenly changing the s-wave interaction with a p-wave one (Up) by using a Feshbach resonance, we reach the p-wave superfluid phase with the p-wave superfluid order parameter being symbolically written as Δp ˜ UpΦp. In this letter, we assess this scenario within the framework of a time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory. Our results would contribute to the study toward the realization of unconventional pairing states in an ultracold Fermi gas.
Two-Element Mixture of Bose and Fermi Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Roy, Richard; Green, Alaina; Bowler, Ryan; Gupta, Subhadeep
We report on the production of a stable mixture of bosonic and fermionic superfluids composed of the elements 174Yb and 6Li which feature a strong mismatch in mass and distinct electronic properties. We demonstrate elastic coupling between the superfluids by observing the shift in dipole oscillation frequency of the bosonic component due to the presence of the fermions. The measured magnitude of the shift is consistent with a mean-field model and its direction determines the previously unknown sign of the interspecies scattering length to be positive. We also observe the exchange of angular momentum between the superfluids from the excitation of a scissors mode in the bosonic component through interspecies interactions. We explain this observation using an analytical model based on superfluid hydrodynamics.
Coordinate-Space Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov Solvers for Superfluid Fermi Systems in Large Boxes
Pei, J. C.; Fann, George I; Harrison, Robert J; Nazarewicz, W.; Hill, Judith C; Galindo, Diego A; Jia, Jun
The self-consistent Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov problem in large boxes can be solved accurately in the coordinate space with the recently developed solvers HFB-AX (2D) and MADNESS-HFB (3D). This is essential for the description of superfluid Fermi systems with complicated topologies and significant spatial extend, such as fissioning nuclei, weakly-bound nuclei, nuclear matter in the neutron star rust, and ultracold Fermi atoms in elongated traps. The HFB-AX solver based on B-spline techniques uses a hybrid MPI and OpenMP programming model for parallel computation for distributed parallel computation, within a node multi-threaded LAPACK and BLAS libraries are used to further enable parallel calculations of large eigensystems. The MADNESS-HFB solver uses a novel multi-resolution analysis based adaptive pseudo-spectral techniques to enable fully parallel 3D calculations of very large systems. In this work we present benchmark results for HFB-AX and MADNESS-HFB on ultracold trapped fermions.
Superfluidity of Bose—Einstein condensates in ultracold atomic gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhu, Qi-Zhong; Wu, Biao
Liquid helium 4 had been the only bosonic superfluid available in experiments for a long time. This situation was changed in 1995, when a new superfluid was born with the realization of the Bose-Einstein condensation in ultracold atomic gases. The liquid helium 4 is strongly interacting and has no spin; there is almost no way to change its parameters, such as interaction strength and density. The new superfluid, Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), offers various advantages over liquid helium. On the one hand, BEC is weakly interacting and has spin degrees of freedom. On the other hand, it is convenient to tune almost all the parameters of a BEC, for example, the kinetic energy by spin-orbit coupling, the density by the external potential, and the interaction by Feshbach resonance. Great efforts have been devoted to studying these new aspects, and the results have greatly enriched our understanding of superfluidity. Here we review these developments by focusing on the stability and critical velocity of various superfluids. The BEC systems considered include a uniform superfluid in free space, a superfluid with its density periodically modulated, a superfluid with artificially engineered spin-orbit coupling, and a superfluid of pure spin current. Due to the weak interaction, these BEC systems can be well described by the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii theory and their superfluidity, in particular critical velocities, can be examined with the aid of Bogoliubov excitations. Experimental proposals to observe these new aspects of superfluidity are discussed. Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2013CB921903 and 2012CB921300) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11274024, 11334001, and 11429402).
Structure of a Quantized Vortex in Fermi Atom Gas
Machida, Masahiko; Koyama, Tomio
In atomic Fermi gases, the pairing character changes from BCS-like to BEC-like when one decreases the threshold energy of the Feshbach resonance. With this crossover, the system enters the strong-coupling regime through the population enhancement of diatom molecules, and the vortex structure becomes much different from well-known core structures in BCS superfluid since the superfluid order parameter is given by a sum of BCS pairs and BEC molecular condensates. In this paper, we study the structure of a vortex by numerically solving the generalized Bogoliubov-de Gennes equation derived from the fermion-boson model and clarify how the vortex structure changes with the threshold energy of the Feshbach resonance. We find that the diatom boson condensate enhances the matter density depletion inside the vortex core and the discreteness of localized quasi-particle spectrum.
Impurity effects on BCS-BEC crossover in ultracold atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Che, Yanming; Zhang, Leifeng; Wang, Jibiao; Chen, Qijin
We present a systematic investigation of the effects of "nonmagnetic" impurities on the s -wave BCS-BEC crossover in atomic Fermi gases within a pairing fluctuation theory. Both pairing and impurity scattering T matrices are treated self-consistently at the same time. While the system is less sensitive to impurity scattering in the Born limit, for strong impurity scatterers, both the frequency and the gap function are highly renormalized, leading to significant suppression of the superfluid Tc, the order parameter, and the superfluid density. We also find the formation of impurity bands and smearing of coherence peak in the fermion density of states, leading to a spectrum weight transfer and finite lifetime of Bogoliubov quasiparticles. In the BCS regime, the superfluidity may be readily destroyed by the impurity of high density, leading to a superfluid-insulator quantum phase transition at zero temperature. In comparison, the superfluidity in unitary and BEC regimes is relatively more robust.
FFLO Superfluids in 2D Spin-Orbit Coupled Fermi Gases
Zheng, Zhen; Gong, Ming; Zhang, Yichao; Zou, Xubo; Zhang, Chuanwei; Guo, Guangcan
We show that the combination of spin-orbit coupling and in-plane Zeeman field in a two-dimensional degenerate Fermi gas can lead to a larger parameter region for Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phases than that using spin-imbalanced Fermi gases. The resulting FFLO superfluids are also more stable due to the enhanced energy difference between FFLO and conventional Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) excited states. We clarify the crucial role of the symmetry of Fermi surface on the formation of finite momentum pairing. The phase diagram for FFLO superfluids is obtained in the BCS-BEC crossover region and possible experimental observations of FFLO phases are discussed. PMID:25288379
Dipole modes of a superfluid Bose-Fermi mixture in the BCS-BEC crossover
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wen, Wen; Chen, Bingyan; Zhang, Xuewu
Motivated by the first experimental realization by the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) group of a mixture of a Bose-Einstein condensate with a Fermi superfluid continuously changing from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) (Ferrier-Barbut et al 2014 Science 345 1035), we analytically study the dipole modes of the superfluid Bose-Fermi mixture in the BCS-BEC crossover. The analytical approach can explicitly reveal relationships between the frequencies of the dipole modes and the microscopic properties of the novel system. We start from coupled hydrodynamic equations, where the equation of state for the Fermi superfluid in the crossover is an analytical fitting formula based on experimental data, and by using a scaling approach we analytically study eigenfrequencies of the dipole modes for the coupled system in the ENS experimental parameters. Without the boson-fermion interaction in the equilibrium density profiles, our theoretical results can be reduced to the mean-field model and is consistent with the experimental data. However, by further taking into account the boson-fermion interaction numerically and analytically, we find that the results disagree with the experiment, especially in the parameter regime where the boson interaction is smaller than the boson-fermion interaction.
Oscillation and Instability of a Soliton in Superfluid Atomic Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhang, Liangsheng; Huse, David
We use superfluid hydrodynamics and force equations to phenomenologically investigate the oscillation of a soliton in harmonic trap and the ``snake'' instability of a soliton in a uniform background. The results obtained are functions of missing mass ms which characterizes the missing number of atoms inside the soliton and a ``mobility'' parameter C which determines the relation between the soliton velocity and the phase difference across it to leading order. It is found that by making | ms | and C small, the soliton will have a slower oscillation and tend to be more stable, as is seen in recent MIT experiment on the unitary Fermi gas [T. Yefsah, A. T. Sommer, M. J. H. Ku, L. W. Cheuk, W. Ji, W. S. Bakr, and M. W. Zwierlein, Nature 499, 426 (2013)]. We also use the hydrodynamic equations with perturbation theory to approximately solve Gross Pitaevskii equation and then use the solution to test our hydrodynamic approach to oscillation and instability in the case of Bose Einstein condensation with weak interactions.
Reentrant superfluidity and pair density wave in single-component dipolar Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Che, Yanming; Wang, Jibiao; Chen, Qijin
We study the superfluidity of single-component dipolar Fermi gases in three dimensions using a pairing fluctuation theory, within the context of BCS-BEC crossover. The transition temperature Tc for the dominant pz wave superfluidity exhibits a remarkable reentrant behavior as a function of the pairing strength induced by the dipole-dipole interaction (DDI), which leads to an anisotropic pair dispersion. The anisotropy and the long-range nature of the DDI cause Tc to vanish for a narrow range of intermediate interaction strengths, where a pair density wave emerges as the ground state. The superfluid density and thermodynamics below Tc, along with the density profiles in a harmonic trap, are investigated as well. Implications for experiments are discussed.
Thermal conductivity and sound attenuation in dilute atomic Fermi gases
Braby, Matt; Chao Jingyi; Schaefer, Thomas
We compute the thermal conductivity and sound attenuation length of a dilute atomic Fermi gas in the framework of kinetic theory. Above the critical temperature for superfluidity, T{sub c}, the quasiparticles are fermions, whereas below T{sub c}, the dominant excitations are phonons. We calculate the thermal conductivity in both cases. We find that at unitarity the thermal conductivity {kappa} in the normal phase scales as {kappa}{proportional_to}T{sup 3/2}. In the superfluid phase we find {kappa}{proportional_to}T{sup 2}. At high temperature the Prandtl number, the ratio of the momentum and thermal diffusion constants, is 2/3. The ratio increases as the temperature is lowered. As a consequence we expect sound attenuation in the normal phase just above T{sub c} to be dominated by shear viscosity. We comment on the possibility of extracting the shear viscosity of the dilute Fermi gas at unitarity using measurements of the sound absorption length.
Metastable superfluidity of repulsive fermionic atoms in optical lattices.
Rosch, Achim; Rasch, David; Binz, Benedikt; Vojta, Matthias
In the fermionic Hubbard model, doubly occupied states have an exponentially large lifetime for strong repulsive interactions U. We show that this property can be used to prepare a metastable s-wave superfluid state for fermionic atoms in optical lattices described by a large-U Hubbard model. When an initial band-insulating state is expanded, the doubly occupied sites Bose condense. A mapping to the ferromagnetic Heisenberg model in an external field allows for a reliable solution of the problem. Nearest-neighbor repulsion and pair hopping are important in stabilizing superfluidity.
Gradient corrections to the local-density approximation for trapped superfluid Fermi gases
Csordas, Andras; Almasy, Orsolya; Szepfalusy, Peter
Two species superfluid Fermi gas is investigated on the BCS side up to the Feshbach resonance. Using the Greens's function technique gradient corrections are calculated to the generalized Thomas-Fermi theory including Cooper pairing. Their relative magnitude is found to be measured by the small parameter (d/R{sub TF}){sup 4}, where d is the oscillator length of the trap potential and R{sub TF} is the radial extension of the density n in the Thomas-Fermi approximation. In particular, at the Feshbach resonance the universal corrections to the local density approximation are calculated and a universal prefactor {kappa}{sub W}=7/27 is derived for the von Weizsaecker-type correction {kappa}{sub W}(({h_bar}/2{pi}){sup 2}/2m)({nabla}{sup 2}n{sup 1/2}/n{sup 1/2}).
Physics of our Days: Cooling and thermometry of atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Onofrio, R.
We review the status of cooling techniques aimed at achieving the deepest quantum degeneracy for atomic Fermi gases. We first discuss some physics motivations, providing a quantitative assessment of the need for deep quantum degeneracy in relevant physics cases, such as the search for unconventional superfluid states. Attention is then focused on the most widespread technique to reach deep quantum degeneracy for Fermi systems, sympathetic cooling of Bose–Fermi mixtures, organizing the discussion according to the specific species involved. Various proposals to circumvent some of the limitations on achieving the deepest Fermi degeneracy, and their experimental realizations, are then reviewed. Finally, we discuss the extension of these techniques to optical lattices and the implementation of precision thermometry crucial to the understanding of the phase diagram of classical and quantum phase transitions in Fermi gases.
Tunneling dynamics of superfluid Fermi gases in an accelerating optical lattice
Tie Lu; Xue Jukui
The nonlinear Landau-Zener tunneling and the nonlinear Rabi oscillations of superfluid Fermi gases between Bloch bands in an accelerating optical lattice are discussed. Within the hydrodynamic theory and a two-level model, the tunneling probability of superfluid Fermi gases between Bloch bands is obtained. We find that, as the system crosses from the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) side to the BCS side, the tunneling rate is closely related to the particle density: when the density is smaller (larger) than a critical value, the tunneling rate at unitarity is larger (smaller) than that in the BEC limit. This is well explained in terms of an effective interaction and an effective potential. Furthermore, the nonlinear Rabi oscillations of superfluid Fermi gases between the bands are discussed by imposing a periodic modulation on the level bias and the strength of the lattice. Analytical expressions of the critical density for suppressing or enhancing the Rabi oscillations are obtained. It is shown that, as the system crosses from the BEC side to the BCS side, the critical density strongly depends on the modulation parameters (i.e., the modulation amplitude and the modulation frequency). For a fixed density, a high-frequency or low-frequency modulation can suppress or enhance the Rabi oscillations both at unitarity and in the BEC limit. For an intermediate modulation frequency, the Rabi oscillations are chaotic along the entire BEC-BCS crossover, especially, on the BCS side. Interestingly, we find that the modulation of the lattice strength only with an intermediate modulation frequency has significant effect on the Rabi oscillations both in the BEC limit and at unitarity; that is, an intermediate-frequency modulation can enhance the Rabi oscillations, especially on the BCS side.
Induced Interactions and the Superfluid Transition Temperature in a Three-Component Fermi Gas
Martikainen, J.-P.; Kinnunen, J. J.; Toermae, P.; Pethick, C. J.
We study many-body contributions to the effective interaction between fermions in a three-component Fermi mixture. We find that effective interactions induced by the third component can lead to a phase diagram different from that predicted if interactions with the third component are neglected. As a result, in a confining potential a superfluid shell structure can arise even for equal populations of the components. We also find a critical temperature for the BCS transition in a {sup 6}Li mixture which can deviate strongly from the one in a weakly interacting two-component system.
Inelastic scattering of xenon atoms by quantized vortices in superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pshenichnyuk, I. A.; Berloff, N. G.
We study inelastic interactions of particles with quantized vortices in superfluids by using a semiclassical matter wave theory that is analogous to the Landau two-fluid equations, but allows for the vortex dynamics. The research is motivated by recent experiments on xenon-doped helium nanodroplets that show clustering of the impurities along the vortex cores. We numerically simulate the dynamics of trapping and interactions of xenon atoms by quantized vortices in superfluid helium and the obtained results can be extended to scattering of other impurities by quantized vortices. Different energies and impact parameters of incident particles are considered. We show that inelastic scattering is closely linked to the generation of Kelvin waves along a quantized vortex during the interaction even if there is no capture. The capture criterion of an impurity is formulated in terms of the binding energy.
Quasi-1D Superfluids In A Spin-Imbalanced Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Revelle, Melissa C.; Olsen, Ben A.; Fry, Jacob A.; Hulet, Randall G.
We experimentally study the phases of an ultracold two-spin component gas of atomic fermions (6Li) confined to 1D tubes formed by a 2D optical lattice. The atoms are prepared in the lowest two hyperfine sublevels where their interactions are tuned by a Feshbach resonance. We previously observed phase separation into a partially-polarized superfluid core and either fully-paired or fully-polarized wings (depending on the spin polarization). In 3D, the phase separation is inverted, such that the cloud center is fully paired. We investigate the transition from a 1D to 3D gas by varying the lattice depth and interaction strength which changes the ratio of the tunneling rate between the tubes to the pair binding energy. The region of parameter space we are exploring is believed to be the most promising region for the exotic FFLO superfluid phase. Supported by ARO, NSF, ONR, and the Welch Foundation.
Three-dimensional spin-orbit coupled Fermi gases: Fulde-Ferrell pairing, Majorana fermions, Weyl fermions, and gapless topological superfluidity
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Xia-Ji; Hu, Hui; Pu, Han
We theoretically investigate a three-dimensional Fermi gas with Rashba spin-orbit coupling in the presence of both out-of-plane and in-plane Zeeman fields. We show that, driven by a sufficiently large Zeeman field, either out-of-plane or in-plane, the superfluid phase of this system exhibits a number of interesting features, including inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell pairing, gapped or gapless topological order, and exotic quasi-particle excitations known as Weyl fermions that have linear energy dispersions in momentum space (i.e., massless Dirac fermions). The topological superfluid phase can have either four or two topologically protected Weyl nodes. We present the phase diagrams at both zero and finite temperatures and discuss the possibility of their observation in an atomic Fermi gas with synthetic spin-orbit coupling. In this context, topological superfluid phase with an imperfect Rashba spin-orbit coupling is also studied. Project supported by the ARC Discovery Projects (Grant Nos. FT140100003, FT130100815, DP140103231, and DP140100637), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB921502), the US National Science Foundation, and the Welch Foundation (Grant No. C-1669).
Density functional theory for atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ma, Ping Nang; Pilati, Sebastiano; Troyer, Matthias; Dai, Xi
The interplay between interaction and inhomogeneity for electrons in solids generates many interesting phenomena, including insulating and metallic behaviour, magnetism, superconductivity, quantum criticality and more exotic phases. Many of the same phenomena appear in ultracold fermionic atoms in optical lattices, which provide clean, controlled and tunable `quantum simulators' to explore the intriguing physics of fermionic systems. Although density functional theory (DFT) is widely used to calculate material properties, it has not yet been applied to cold atomic gases in optical lattices. Here we present a new density functional for short-range interactions (as opposed to Coulomb interactions of electrons), which renders DFT suitable for atomic Fermi gases. This grants us access to an extensive toolset, previously developed for materials simulations, to calculate the static and dynamic properties of atomic Fermi gases in optical lattices and external potentials. Ultracold atom quantum simulators can in turn be used to explore limitations of DFT functionals, and to further improve hybrid functionals, thus forming a bridge between materials simulations and atomic physics.
Traveling Majorana Solitons in a Low-Dimensional Spin-Orbit-Coupled Fermi Superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zou, Peng; Brand, Joachim; Liu, Xia-Ji; Hu, Hui
We investigate traveling solitons of a one- or two-dimensional spin-orbit-coupled Fermi superfluid in both topologically trivial and nontrivial regimes by solving the static and time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. We find a critical velocity vh for traveling solitons that is much smaller than the value predicted using the Landau criterion due to spin-orbit coupling. Above vh, our time-dependent simulations in harmonic traps indicate that traveling solitons decay by radiating sound waves. In the topological phase, we predict the existence of peculiar Majorana solitons, which host two Majorana fermions and feature a phase jump of π across the soliton, irrespective of the velocity of travel. These unusual properties of Majorana solitons may open an alternative way to manipulate Majorana fermions for fault-tolerant topological quantum computations.
Traveling Majorana Solitons in a Low-Dimensional Spin-Orbit-Coupled Fermi Superfluid.
Zou, Peng; Brand, Joachim; Liu, Xia-Ji; Hu, Hui
We investigate traveling solitons of a one- or two-dimensional spin-orbit-coupled Fermi superfluid in both topologically trivial and nontrivial regimes by solving the static and time-dependent Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. We find a critical velocity v_{h} for traveling solitons that is much smaller than the value predicted using the Landau criterion due to spin-orbit coupling. Above v_{h}, our time-dependent simulations in harmonic traps indicate that traveling solitons decay by radiating sound waves. In the topological phase, we predict the existence of peculiar Majorana solitons, which host two Majorana fermions and feature a phase jump of π across the soliton, irrespective of the velocity of travel. These unusual properties of Majorana solitons may open an alternative way to manipulate Majorana fermions for fault-tolerant topological quantum computations.
Evolution of the vortex state in the BCS-BEC crossover of a quasi two-dimensional superfluid Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Luo, Xuebing; Zhou, Kezhao; Zhang, Zhidong
We use the path-integral formalism to investigate the vortex properties of a quasi-two dimensional (2D) Fermi superfluid system trapped in an optical lattice potential. Within the framework of mean-field theory, the cooper pair density, the atom number density, and the vortex core size are calculated from weakly interacting BCS regime to strongly coupled while weakly interacting BEC regime. Numerical results show that the atoms gradually penetrate into the vortex core as the system evolves from BEC to BCS regime. Meanwhile, the presence of the optical lattice allows us to analyze the vortex properties in the crossover from three-dimensional (3D) to 2D case. Furthermore, using a simple re-normalization procedure, we find that the two-body bound state exists only when the interaction is stronger than a critical one denoted by G c which is obtained as a function of the lattice potential's parameter. Finally, we investigate the vortex core size and find that it grows with increasing interaction strength. In particular, by analyzing the behavior of the vortex core size in both BCS and BEC regimes, we find that the vortex core size behaves quite differently for positive and negative chemical potentials. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51331006, 51590883, and 11204321) and the Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KJZD-EW-M05-3).
P-wave superfluid in a quasi-two-dimensional dipolar Bose-Fermi quantum gas mixture
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kain, Ben; Ling, Hong
The p-wave (px + ipy) superfluid has attracted significant attention in recent years mainly because its vortex core supports a Majorana fermion which, due to its non-Abelian statistics, can be explored for implementing topological quantum computation (TQC). Mixing in bosons may lead to p-wave pairing in a Fermi gas. In a dipolar condensate, the dipole-dipole interaction represents a control knob inaccessible to nondipolar Bosons. Thus, mixing dipolar bosons with fermions opens up new possibilities. We consider a mixture of a spin-polarized Fermi gas and a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate in a quasi-two-dimensional trap setting. We take the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mean-field approach and develop a theory for studying the stability of the mixture and estimating the critical temperature of the p-wave superfluid. We use this theory to identify the experimentally accessible parameter space in which the mixture is stable against phase separation and the p-wave superfluid pairing can be resonantly enhanced. An enhanced p-wave superfluid order parameter can make the fault tolerant TQC less susceptible to thermal fluctuations. This work aims to stimulate experimental activity in creating dipolar Bose-Fermi mixtures. This work is supported by the US National Science Foundation and the US Army Research Office
Cold Atomic Fermi Gases: Effective Interactions and Quantum Monte Carlo Studies
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gilbreth, Christopher Newman
Cold atomic Fermi gases are clean, highly experimentally tunable systems with connections to many different fields of physics. However, in the strongly-interacting regime they are nonperturbative and difficult to study theoretically. One challenge is to calculate the energy spectra of few-body cold atom systems along the crossover from a gas of molecular dimers [the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) regime] to a gas described by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory. The configuration-interaction (CI) method is widely used for such problems, but the finite model spaces employed require carefully chosen interactions with good convergence characteristics. Here we study a recently introduced effective interaction for the unitary Fermi gas in the CI approach, extending it to the BEC-BCS crossover and examining its properties analytically and numerically. We find it exhibits fast convergence, which allows us to accurately calculate the low-lying energy spectrum of three- and four-particle systems along the crossover. For larger systems of cold atoms, the superfluid phase transition is a subject of principal interest, but is still incompletely understood. Realistic ab initio calculations of the heat capacity across the superfluid phase transition have not to date been achieved, and the nature of the pseudogap effect in the unitary regime is still a subject of debate. Here we apply the auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFMC) method to shed light on the superfluid phase transition by studying a finite-size unitary trapped gas in the canonical ensemble. The AFMC method permits fully nonperturbative calculations without introducing uncontrolled approximations, but can be computationally intensive. Our calculations are made feasible by introducing a new stabilization technique to improve the scaling of the method with the size of the single-particle model space. Applying this method, we present new results concerning the signatures of the superfluid phase transition and
Superfluidity of a Fermi liquid from the viewpoint of a hierarchy of equations for reduced density matrices
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Golovko, V. A.
The hierarchy of equations for reduced density matrices relevant to thermodynamic equilibrium with account taken of the spin obtained earlier is modified in order to describe the state of a Fermi system with a condensate. Although the procedure is to some extent analogous with the one carried out by the author earlier for a Bose liquid peculiarities relevant to Fermi statistics complicate considerably the treatment. As in the case of the Bose liquid the condensate phase can be superfluid as well as nonsuperfluid, the physical causes of superfluidity being identical. A new mechanism of fermion pairing that acts even in the case of a purely repulsive Hamiltonian is pointed out. Special attention is given to the thermodynamics of a superfluid Fermi system. The example of a hard-sphere system is used to find out the form of phase diagrams, the character of the phase transition to a condensate phase and the properties of the last. Noticeable dissimilarities from a Bose system with the same Hamiltonian are revealed. Application of the present approach to superconductivity is discussed as well.
Mobile Magnetic Impurities in a Fermi Superfluid: A Route to Designer Molecules
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gopalakrishnan, Sarang; Parker, Colin V.; Demler, Eugene
A magnetic impurity in a fermionic superfluid hosts bound quasiparticle states known as Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states. We argue here that, if the impurity is mobile (i.e., has a finite mass), the impurity and its bound Yu-Shiba-Rusinov quasiparticle move together as a midgap molecule, which has an unusual "Mexican-hat" dispersion that is tunable via the fermion density. We map out the impurity dispersion, which consists of an "atomic" branch (in which the impurity is dressed by quasiparticle pairs) and a "molecular" branch (in which the impurity binds a quasiparticle). We discuss the experimental realization and detection of midgap Shiba molecules, focusing on Li-Cs mixtures, and comment on the prospects they offer for realizing exotic many-body states.
Acoustic Attenuation Probe for Fermion Superfluidity in Ultracold-Atom Gases
Gaudio, Sergio; Mihaila, Bogdan; Blagoev, Krastan B.; Timmermans, Eddy; Bedell, Kevin S.
Dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC's), currently used to cool fermionic atoms in atom traps, can also probe the superfluidity of these fermions. The damping rate of BEC-acoustic excitations (phonon modes), measured in the middle of the trap as a function of the phonon momentum, yields an unambiguous signature of BCS-like superfluidity, provides a measurement of the superfluid gap parameter, and gives an estimate of the size of the Cooper pairs in the BEC-BCS crossover regime. We also predict kinks in the momentum dependence of the damping rate which can reveal detailed information about the fermion quasiparticle dispersion relation.
Zero-Temperature Properties of a Strongly Interacting Superfluid Fermi Gas in the BCS-BEC Crossover Region
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tajima, H.; van Wyk, P.; Hanai, R.; Kagamihara, D.; Inotani, D.; Horikoshi, M.; Ohashi, Y.
We investigate thermodynamic properties and effects of quantum fluctuations in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)-Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover region of a superfluid Fermi gas in the low-temperature limit. Including strong-coupling corrections within the framework of an extended T-matrix approximation, we numerically compute the isothermal compressibility χ _n . While quantum fluctuation effects on χ _n in the strong-coupling BEC regime are explained by the quantum depletion due to a repulsive interaction between tightly bound molecules, effects of self-energy shift on the Fermi chemical potential are found to enhance χ _n in the weak-coupling BCS region. We also show that the calculated χ _n agrees well with the recent experiment on a ^6 Li Fermi gas done from the weak-coupling region to the unitarity limit. Our result would be useful for the study of many-body quantum corrections in the BCS-BEC crossover region of a strongly interacting Fermi superfluid.
From cosmology to cold atoms: observation of Sakharov oscillations in a quenched atomic superfluid.
Hung, Chen-Lung; Gurarie, Victor; Chin, Cheng
Predicting the dynamics of many-body systems far from equilibrium is a challenging theoretical problem. A long-predicted phenomenon in hydrodynamic nonequilibrium systems is the occurrence of Sakharov oscillations, which manifest in the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale correlations of galaxies. Here, we report the observation of Sakharov oscillations in the density fluctuations of a quenched atomic superfluid through a systematic study in both space and time domains and with tunable interaction strengths. Our work suggests a different approach to the study of nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum many-body systems and the exploration of their analogs in cosmology and astrophysics.
Flow-induced charge modulation in superfluid atomic fermions loaded into an optical kagome lattice.
Yamamoto, Daisuke; Sato, Chika; Nikuni, Tetsuro; Tsuchiya, Shunji
We study the superfluid state of atomic fermions in a tunable optical kagome lattice motivated by recent experiments. We show that the imposed superflow induces spatial modulations in the density and order parameter of the pair condensate and leads to a charge modulated superfluid state analogous to a supersolid state. The spatial modulations in the superfluid emerge due to the geometric effect of the kagome lattice that introduces anisotropy in hopping amplitudes of fermion pairs in the presence of superflow. We also study superflow instabilities and find that the critical current limited by the dynamical instability is quite enhanced due to the large density of states associated with the flatband. The charge modulated superfluid state can sustain high temperatures close to the transition temperature that is also enhanced due to the flatband and is therefore realizable in experiments.
Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov states and quantum oscillations in mesoscopic superconductors and superfluid ultracold Fermi gases
Samokhvalov, A. V.; Mel'nikov, A. S.; Buzdin, A. I.
We have studied the distinctive features of the Fulde-Ferrel-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) instability and phase transitions in two-dimensional (2D) mesoscopic superconductors placed in magnetic field of arbitrary orientation and rotating superfluid Fermi gases with imbalanced state populations. Using a generalized version of the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory we have shown that the FFLO states are strongly modified by the effect of the trapping potential confining the condensate. The phenomenon of the inhomogeneous state formation is determined by the interplay of three length scales: (i) length scale of the FFLO instability; (ii) 2D system size; (iii) length scale associated with the orbital effect caused either by the Fermi condensate rotation or magnetic field component applied perpendicular to the superconducting disk. We have studied this interplay and resulting quantum oscillation effects in both superconducting and superfluid finite-size systems with FFLO instability and described the hallmarks of the FFLO phenomenon in a restricted geometry. The finite size of the system is shown to affect strongly the conditions of the observability of switching between the states with different vorticities.
Head-on Collisions of Xe Atoms Against Superfluid ^4 He Nanodroplets
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Coppens, François; Leal, Antonio; Barranco, Manuel; Halberstadt, Nadine; Pi, Marti
We study the head-on collision of a heliophilic xenon atom with a superfluid ^4 He droplet made of 1000 atoms. At variance with the findings for a heliophobic cesium atom of a similar atomic weight, it is found that the xenon atom has to hit the droplet with a large kinetic energy in order to get across it without being captured. When it is not captured, the xenon impurity does not emerge as a bare atom; instead, due to its heliophilic character it carries away some helium atoms.
Unconventional Density Wave and Superfluidity in Cold Atom Systems
32 4.4 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 5 Quantum Degenerate Fermi-Fermi Mixture 39 5.1...Condensed Matter Physics (CMP) strives to understand the proper- ties and behaviors of matter. One of most intriguing phenomena of interacting quantum ...possible. The spectacular progress of experiments has provided a new arena for studying correlated quantum many-body phenomena, where the microscopic
Diffusive Thermal Conductivity of Superfluid Fermi Gas in p-Wave State at Low Temperatures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
M. Khademi, Dehkordi; Nasirimoghadam, S.; Nabipoor, F.; M. A., Shahzamanian
The diffusive thermal conductivity tensor of p-wave superfluid at low temperatures is calculated by using the Boltzmann equation approach. We use the Sykes and Brooker procedure and show that Kxx is equal to Kyy and these are related to T-1, also Kzz is proporated to T-3.
Quantitative comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental results for Bragg spectroscopy of a strongly interacting Fermi superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zou, Peng; Kuhnle, Eva D.; Vale, Chris J.; Hu, Hui
Theoretical predictions for the dynamic structure factor of a harmonically trapped Fermi superfluid near the Bose-Einstein condensate-Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BEC-BCS) crossover are compared with recent Bragg spectroscopy measurements at large transferred momenta. The calculations are based on a random-phase (or time-dependent Hartree-Fock-Gorkov) approximation generalized to the strongly interacting regime. Excellent agreement with experimental spectra at low temperatures is obtained, with no free parameters. Theoretical predictions for zero-temperature static structure factor are also found to agree well with the experimental results and independent theoretical calculations based on the exact Tan relations. The temperature dependence of the structure factors at unitarity is predicted.
Probing Non-Abelian Statistics of Majorana Fermions in Ultracold Atomic Superfluid
Zhu Shiliang; Shao, L.-B.; Wang, Z. D.; Duan, L.-M.
We propose an experiment to directly probe the non-Abelian statistics of Majorana fermions by braiding them in an s-wave superfluid of ultracold atoms. We show that different orders of braiding operations give orthogonal output states that can be distinguished through Raman spectroscopy. Realization of Majorana states in an s-wave superfluid requires strong spin-orbital coupling and a controllable Zeeman field in the perpendicular direction. We present a simple laser configuration to generate the artificial spin-orbital coupling and the required Zeeman field in the dark-state subspace.
Fermi problem with artificial atoms in circuit QED.
Sabín, Carlos; del Rey, Marco; García-Ripoll, Juan José; León, Juan
We propose a feasible experimental test of a 1D version of the Fermi problem using superconducting qubits. We give an explicit nonperturbative proof of strict causality in this model, showing that the probability of excitation of a two-level artificial atom with a dipolar coupling to a quantum field is completely independent of the other qubit until signals from it may arrive. We explain why this is in perfect agreement with the existence of nonlocal correlations and previous results which were used to claim apparent causality problems for Fermi's two-atom system.
p{sub x}+ip{sub y} Superfluid from s-Wave Interactions of Fermionic Cold Atoms
Zhang Chuanwei; Tewari, Sumanta; Lutchyn, Roman M.; Das Sarma, S.
Two-dimensional (p{sub x}+ip{sub y}) superfluids or superconductors offer a playground for studying intriguing physics such as quantum teleportation, non-Abelian statistics, and topological quantum computation. Creating such a superfluid in cold fermionic atom optical traps using p-wave Feshbach resonance is turning out to be challenging. Here we propose a method to create a p{sub x}+ip{sub y} superfluid directly from an s-wave interaction making use of a topological Berry phase, which can be artificially generated. We discuss ways to detect the spontaneous Hall mass current, which acts as a diagnostic for the chiral p-wave superfluid.
Observation of von Kármán Vortex Street in an Atomic Superfluid Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kwon, Woo Jin; Kim, Joon Hyun; Seo, Sang Won; Shin, Y.
We report on the experimental observation of vortex cluster shedding from a moving obstacle in an oblate atomic Bose-Einstein condensate. At low obstacle velocities v above a critical value, vortex clusters consisting of two like-sign vortices are generated to form a regular configuration like a von Kármán street, and as v is increased, the shedding pattern becomes irregular with many different kinds of vortex clusters. In particular, we observe that the Stouhal number associated with the shedding frequency exhibits saturation behavior with increasing v . The regular-to-turbulent transition of the vortex cluster shedding reveals remarkable similarities between a superfluid and a classical viscous fluid. Our work opens a new direction for experimental investigations of the superfluid Reynolds number characterizing universal superfluid hydrodynamics.
Triplet pair amplitude in a trapped s -wave superfluid Fermi gas with broken spin rotation symmetry. II. Three-dimensional continuum case
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Inotani, Daisuke; Hanai, Ryo; Ohashi, Yoji
We extend our recent work [Y. Endo et al., Phys. Rev. A 92, 023610 (2015)], 10.1103/PhysRevA.92.023610 for a parity-mixing effect in a model of two-dimensional lattice fermions to a realistic three-dimensional ultracold Fermi gas. Including effects of broken local spatial inversion symmetry by a trap potential within the framework of the real-space Bogoliubov-de Gennes theory at T =0 , we point out that an odd-parity p -wave Cooper-pair amplitude is expected to have already been realized in previous experiments on an (even-parity) s -wave superfluid Fermi gas with spin imbalance. This indicates that when one suddenly changes the s -wave pairing interaction to an appropriate p -wave one by using a Feshbach technique in this case, a nonvanishing p -wave superfluid order parameter is immediately obtained, which is given by the product of the p -wave interaction and the p -wave pair amplitude that has already been induced in the spin-imbalanced s -wave superfluid Fermi gas. Thus, by definition, the system is in the p -wave superfluid state, at least just after this manipulation. Since the achievement of a p -wave superfluid state is one of the most exciting challenges in cold Fermi gas physics, our results may provide an alternative approach to this unconventional pairing state. In addition, since the parity-mixing effect cannot be explained as far as one deals with a trap potential in the local density approximation (LDA), it is considered as a crucial example which requires us to go beyond the LDA.
Atomic quantum dots coupled to a reservoir of a superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate.
Recati, A; Fedichev, P O; Zwerger, W; von Delft, J; Zoller, P
We study the dynamics of an atomic quantum dot, i.e., a single atom in a tight optical trap which is coupled to a superfluid reservoir via laser transitions. Quantum interference between the collisional interactions and the laser induced coupling results in a tunable dot-bath coupling, allowing an essentially complete decoupling from the environment. Quantum dots embedded in a 1D Luttinger liquid of cold bosonic atoms realize a spin-boson model with Ohmic coupling, which exhibits a dissipative phase transition and allows us to directly measure atomic Luttinger parameters.
Superfluidity in ultracold gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Campbell, Gretchen
The study of superfluidity has a long and rich history. In Bose-Einstein condensate, superfluidity gives rise to a number of interesting effects, including quantized vortices and persistent currents. In this seminar I will give an introduction to superfluidity in ultracold atoms, including a discussion of the critical velocity and the spectrum of elementary excitations in superfluid systems.
Maria Goeppert Mayer Prize Talk: Superfluid Atom Circuits
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Campbell, Gretchen
We have performed a series of experiments with ring-shaped Bose-Einstein Condensates, with and without the addition of a ``weak link'' barrier. Weak connections between superconductors or superfluids can differ from classical links due to quantum coherence, which allows for flow without resistance. The properties of a weak link are characterized by a single function, the current-phase relationship. In recent experiments, we have developed a technique to directly measure the current-phase relationship of the weak link. The weak link is created using a laser beam that acts as a barrier across one side of the ring condensate. By rotating the barrier, we can control the current around the ring. When the weak link is rotated at at low rotation rates, we observe phase slips between well-defined, quantized current states, and have demonstrated that the system exhibits hysteresis. At higher rotation rates we have directly measured the onset of resistive flow across the weak link. Such measurements may open new avenues of research in quantum transport. More recently, we have studied the behavior of the ring BEC when the radius is expanded at supersonic rates. Because information can propagate only at the speed of sound, the supersonic expansion creates causally disconnected regions, whose phases evolve at different rates. Such experiments may allow us to study cosmic inflation at laboratory scales.
Abnormal Superfluid Fraction of Harmonically Trapped Few-Fermion Systems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yan, Yangqian; Blume, D.
Superfluidity is a fascinating phenomenon that, at the macroscopic scale, leads to dissipationless flow and the emergence of vortices. While these macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity are well described by theories that have their origin in Landau's two-fluid model, our microscopic understanding of superfluidity is far from complete. Using analytical and numerical ab initio approaches, this Letter determines the superfluid fraction and local superfluid density of small harmonically trapped two-component Fermi gases as a function of the interaction strength and temperature. At low temperature, we find that the superfluid fraction is, in certain regions of the parameter space, negative. This counterintuitive finding is traced back to the symmetry of the system's ground state wave function, which gives rise to a diverging quantum moment of inertia Iq. Analogous abnormal behavior of Iq has been observed in even-odd nuclei at low temperature. Our predictions can be tested in modern cold atom experiments.
Abnormal Superfluid Fraction of Harmonically Trapped Few-Fermion Systems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yan, Yangqian; Blume, D.
Superfluidity is a fascinating phenomenon that, at the macroscopic scale, leads to dissipationless flow and the emergence of vortices. While these macroscopic manifestations of superfluidity are well described by theories that have their origin in Landau's two-fluid model, our microscopic understanding of superfluidity is far from complete. Using analytical and numerical ab initio approaches, this paper determines the superfluid fraction and local superfluid density of small harmonically trapped two-component Fermi gases as a function of the interaction strength and temperature. At low temperature, we find that the superfluid fraction is, in certain regions of the parameter space, negative. This counterintuitive finding is traced back to the symmetry of the system's ground state wave function, which gives rise to a diverging quantum moment of inertia Iq. Analogous abnormal behavior of Iq has been observed in even-odd nuclei at low temperature. Our predictions can be tested in modern cold atom experiments. Support by the NSF is acknowledged.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Strecker, Kevin; Truscott, Andrew; Partridge, Guthrie; Chen, Ying-Cheng
Dual evaporation gives 50 million fermions at T = 0.1 T(sub F). Demonstrated suppression of interactions by coherent superposition - applicable to atomic clocks. Looking for evidence of Cooper pairing and superfluidity.
Linear response of heat conductivity of normal-superfluid interface of a polarized Fermi gas to orbital magnetic field
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ebrahimian, N.; Mehrafarin, M.; Afzali, R.
Using perturbed Bogoliubov equations, we study the linear response to a weak orbital magnetic field of the heat conductivity of the normal-superfluid interface of a polarized Fermi gas at sufficiently low temperature. We consider the various scattering regions of the BCS regime and analytically obtain the transmission coefficients and the heat conductivity across the interface in an arbitrary weak orbital field. For a definite choice of the field, we consider various values of the scattering length in the BCS range and numerically obtain the allowed values of the average and species-imbalance chemical potentials. Thus, taking Andreev reflection into account, we describe how the heat conductivity is affected by the field and the species imbalance. In particular, we show that the additional heat conductivity due to the orbital field increases with the species imbalance, which is more noticeable at higher temperatures. Our results indicate how the heat conductivity may be controlled, which is relevant to sensitive magnetic field sensors/regulators at the interface.
Hyperfine structure measurement of 87Rb atoms injected into superfluid helium as highly energetic ion beam
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Imamura, Kei; Furukawa, Takeshi; Yang, Xiaofei; Fujita, Tomomi; Wakui, Takashi; Mitsuya, Yousuke; Hayasaka, Miki; Ichikawa, Yuichi; Hatakeyama, Atsushi; Kobayashi, Tohru; Odashima, Hitoshi; Ueno, Hideki; Matsuo, Yukari; Orochi Collaboration
We have developed a new nuclear laser spectroscopy technique that is called OROCHI (Optical RI-atoms Observation in Condensed Helium as Ioncatcher). In OROCHI, highly energetic ion beam is injected into superfluid helium (He II) and is trapped as atoms. Hyperfine structure (HFS) and Zeeman splitting of trapped atoms is measured using laser-microwave (MW)/radiofrequency (RF) double resonance method. We deduce nuclear moments and spin values from the measured splittings, respectively So far, we measured Zeeman splitting of 84-87Rb atoms To evaluate the validity of the OROCHI method, it is necessary to investigate the following two points not only for Zeeman but also for HFS splitings. (i) What is the accuracy in frequency in our measurement? (ii) How high beam intensity is necessary to observe resonance spectra? For this purpose we conducted online experiment using 87Rb beam and measured the HFS splitting of injected 87Rb atoms in He II.
Verification of an analytic fit for the vortex core profile in superfluid Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Verhelst, Nick; Klimin, Serghei; Tempere, Jacques
A characteristic property of superfluidity and -conductivity is the presence of quantized vortices in rotating systems. To study the BEC-BCS crossover the two most common methods are the Bogoliubov-De Gennes theory and the usage of an effective field theory. In order to simplify the calculations for one vortex, it is often assumed that the hyperbolic tangent yields a good approximation for the vortex structure. The combination of a variational vortex structure, together with cylindrical symmetry yields analytic (or numerically simple) expressions. The focus of this article is to investigate to what extent this analytic fit truly reflects the vortex structure throughout the BEC-BCS crossover at finite temperatures. The vortex structure will be determined using the effective field theory presented in [Eur. Phys. Journal B 88, 122 (2015)] and compared to the variational analytic solution. By doing this it is possible to see where these two structures agree, and where they differ. This comparison results in a range of applicability where the hyperbolic tangent will be a good fit for the vortex structure.
Hysteresis of Current in Noninteracting Atomic Fermi Gases in Optical Ring Potentials
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Metcalf, Mekena; Chien, Chih-Chun; Lai, Chen-Yen
Hysteresis is a ubiquitous phenomenon, which can be found in magnets, superfluids, and other many-body systems. Although interactions are present in most systems exhibiting hysteresis, here we show the current of a non-interacting Fermi gas in an optical ring potential produces hysteresis behavior when driven by a time-dependent artificial gauge field and subject to dissipation. Fermions in a ring potential threaded with flux can exhibit a persistent current when the system is in thermal equilibrium, but cold-atoms are clean and dissipation for reaching thermal equilibrium may be introduced by an external, thermal bath. We use the standard relaxation approximation to model the dynamics of cold-atoms driven periodically by an artificial gauge field. A competition of the driven time and the relaxation time leads to hysteresis of the mass current, and work done on the system, as a function of the relaxation time, exhibits similar behavior as Kramers transition rate in chemical reaction and one-dimensional thermal transport.
Meissner-like effect on normal-superfluid interface of imbalanced Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ebrahimian, N.; Mehrafarin, M.
We examine the N-SF interface of a polarized Fermi gas with two spin species a and b, in the presence of a weak external magnetic field. In our analysis we shall, therefore, consider the possibility of the Meissner effect too. We use perturbation theory to solve the Bogoliubov equations and obtain the wave functions. We consider the various scattering regions of the BCS regime and analytically obtain the transmission coefficients and the heat conductivity across the interface. We describe how the heat conductivity is affected by the Meissner effect and the species imbalance. It suffices to remark that the leading order term in transmission coefficients are independent of energy E. Also the additional heat conductivity is found to be proportional to λ 2 ( λ is penetration depth). The corresponding graphs is also plotted and discussed.
Formation of bimetallic clusters in superfluid helium nanodroplets analysed by atomic resolution electron tomography
Haberfehlner, Georg; Thaler, Philipp; Knez, Daniel; Volk, Alexander; Hofer, Ferdinand; Ernst, Wolfgang E.; Kothleitner, Gerald
Structure, shape and composition are the basic parameters responsible for properties of nanoscale materials, distinguishing them from their bulk counterparts. To reveal these in three dimensions at the nanoscale, electron tomography is a powerful tool. Advancing electron tomography to atomic resolution in an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope remains challenging and has been demonstrated only a few times using strong constraints or extensive filtering. Here we demonstrate atomic resolution electron tomography on silver/gold core/shell nanoclusters grown in superfluid helium nanodroplets. We reveal morphology and composition of a cluster identifying gold- and silver-rich regions in three dimensions and we estimate atomic positions without using any prior information and with minimal filtering. The ability to get full three-dimensional information down to the atomic scale allows understanding the growth and deposition process of the nanoclusters and demonstrates an approach that may be generally applicable to all types of nanoscale materials. PMID:26508471
Superfluid and insulating phases of fermion mixtures in optical lattices.
Iskin, M; Sá de Melo, C A R
The ground state phase diagram of fermion mixtures in optical lattices is analyzed as a function of interaction strength, fermion filling factor, and tunneling parameters. In addition to standard superfluid, phase-separated or coexisting superfluid -- excess-fermion phases found in homogeneous or harmonically trapped systems, fermions in optical lattices have several insulating phases, including a molecular Bose-Mott insulator (BMI), a Fermi-Pauli (band) insulator (FPI), a phase-separated BMI-FPI mixture or a Bose-Fermi checkerboard (BFC). The molecular BMI phase is the fermion mixture counterpart of the atomic BMI found in atomic Bose systems, the BFC or BMI-FPI phases exist in Bose-Fermi mixtures, and lastly the FPI phase is particular to the Fermi nature of the constituent atoms of the mixture.
Inhomogeneous atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in cubic lattices.
Cramer, M; Eisert, J; Illuminati, F
We determine the ground state properties of inhomogeneous mixtures of bosons and fermions in cubic lattices and parabolic confining potentials. For finite hopping we determine the domain boundaries between Mott-insulator plateaux and hopping-dominated regions for lattices of arbitrary dimension within mean-field and perturbation theory. The results are compared with a new numerical method that is based on a Gutzwiller variational approach for the bosons and an exact treatment for the fermions. The findings can be applied as a guideline for future experiments with trapped atomic Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices.
Interplay between exotic superfluidity and magnetism in a chain of four-component ultracold atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Szirmai, E.; Barcza, G.; Sólyom, J.; Legeza, Ö.
We investigate the spin-polarized chain of ultracold alkaline-earth-metal atoms with spin-3/2 described by the fermionic Hubbard model with SU(4) symmetric attractive interaction. The competition of bound pairs, trions, quartets, and unbound atoms is studied analytically and by density-matrix renormalization-group simulations. We find several distinct states where bound particles coexist with the ferromagnetic state of unpaired fermions. In particular, an exotic inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO)-type superfluid of quartets in a magnetic background of uncorrelated atoms is found for weaker interactions. We show that the system can be driven from this quartet-FFLO state to a molecular state of localized quartets where spatial segregation between molecular crystals and ferromagnetic liquids emerges, and this transition is reflected in the static structure factor.
Bell's Inequality and Universal Quantum Gates in a Cold-Atom Chiral Fermionic p-Wave Superfluid
Zhang Chuanwei; Tewari, Sumanta; Das Sarma, S.
We propose and analyze a probabilistic scheme to entangle two spatially separated topological qubits in a p{sub x}+ip{sub y} superfluid using controlled collisions between atoms in movable dipole traps and unpaired atoms inside vortex cores in the superfluid. We discuss how to test the violation of Bell's inequality with the generated entanglement. A set of universal quantum gates is shown to be implementable deterministically using the entanglement despite the fact that the entangled states can be created only probabilistically.
Laser spectroscopic probing of coexisting superfluid and insulating states of an atomic Bose-Hubbard system.
Kato, Shinya; Inaba, Kensuke; Sugawa, Seiji; Shibata, Kosuke; Yamamoto, Ryuta; Yamashita, Makoto; Takahashi, Yoshiro
A system of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice has been regarded as an ideal quantum simulator for a Hubbard model with extremely high controllability of the system parameters. While making use of the controllability, a comprehensive measurement across the weakly to strongly interacting regimes in the Hubbard model to discuss the quantum many-body state is still limited. Here we observe a great change in the excitation energy spectra across the two regimes in an atomic Bose-Hubbard system by using a spectroscopic technique, which can resolve the site occupancy in the lattice. By quantitatively comparing the observed spectra and numerical simulations based on sum rule relations and a binary fluid treatment under a finite temperature Gutzwiller approximation, we show that the spectra reflect the coexistence of a delocalized superfluid state and a localized insulating state across the two regimes.
Laser spectroscopic probing of coexisting superfluid and insulating states of an atomic Bose–Hubbard system
Kato, Shinya; Inaba, Kensuke; Sugawa, Seiji; Shibata, Kosuke; Yamamoto, Ryuta; Yamashita, Makoto; Takahashi, Yoshiro
A system of ultracold atoms in an optical lattice has been regarded as an ideal quantum simulator for a Hubbard model with extremely high controllability of the system parameters. While making use of the controllability, a comprehensive measurement across the weakly to strongly interacting regimes in the Hubbard model to discuss the quantum many-body state is still limited. Here we observe a great change in the excitation energy spectra across the two regimes in an atomic Bose–Hubbard system by using a spectroscopic technique, which can resolve the site occupancy in the lattice. By quantitatively comparing the observed spectra and numerical simulations based on sum rule relations and a binary fluid treatment under a finite temperature Gutzwiller approximation, we show that the spectra reflect the coexistence of a delocalized superfluid state and a localized insulating state across the two regimes. PMID:27094083
Dynamic density and spin responses of a superfluid Fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover: Path integral formulation and pair fluctuation theory
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
He, Lianyi
We present a standard field theoretical derivation of the dynamic density and spin linear response functions of a dilute superfluid Fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover in both three and two dimensions. The derivation of the response functions is based on the elegant functional path integral approach which allows us to calculate the density-density and spin-spin correlation functions by introducing the external sources for the density and the spin density. Since the generating functional cannot be evaluated exactly, we consider two gapless approximations which ensure a gapless collective mode (Goldstone mode) in the superfluid state: the BCS-Leggett mean-field theory and the Gaussian-pair-fluctuation (GPF) theory. In the mean-field theory, our results of the response functions agree with the known results from the random phase approximation. We further consider the pair fluctuation effects and establish a theoretical framework for the dynamic responses within the GPF theory. We show that the GPF response theory naturally recovers three kinds of famous diagrammatic contributions: the Self-Energy contribution, the Aslamazov-Lakin contribution, and the Maki-Thompson contribution. We also show that unlike the equilibrium state, in evaluating the response functions, the linear (first-order) terms in the external sources as well as the induced order parameter perturbations should be treated carefully. In the superfluid state, there is an additional order parameter contribution which ensures that in the static and long wavelength limit, the density response function recovers the result of the compressibility (compressibility sum rule). We expect that the f-sum rule is manifested by the full number equation which includes the contribution from the Gaussian pair fluctuations. The dynamic density and spin response functions in the normal phase (above the superfluid critical temperature) are also derived within the Nozières-Schmitt-Rink (NSR) theory.
Measurement of the hyperfine splitting of 133Cs atoms in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Imamura, K.; Furukawa, T.; Yang, X. F.; Mitsuya, Y.; Fujita, T.; Hayasaka, M.; Kobayashi, T.; Hatakeyama, A.; Ueno, H.; Odashima, H.; Matsuo, Y.
We have been developing a new nuclear laser spectroscopy method named "OROCHI" (Optical RI-atom Observation in Condensed Helium as Ion-catcher). OROCHI utilizes superfluid helium (He II) not only as an efficient stopping medium of highly energetic ions but also as a host matrix of in-situ atomic laser spectroscopy. Using these characteristic of He II, we produce atomic spin polarization and measure Zeeman and hyperfine structure (HFS) splitting using laser-RF (radio frequency) / MW (microwave) double resonance method. From the measured energy splittings, we can deduce nuclear spins and moments. So far, we have conducted a series of experiments using both stable (85,87Rb, 133Cs, 197Au, 107,109Ag) and unstable isotopes (84,86Rb) to confirm the feasibility of OROCHI method, especially observing Zeeman resonance and determining nuclear spins. The measurement of HFS splitting of atoms introduced into He II is indispensable to clarify the nuclear properties by deducing nuclear moments as well as the study of nuclear spins. For this purpose, we perform a precision measurement of HFS of 133Cs atoms immersed in He II using laser ablation technique. In this paper, we describe the result of the experiment.
Quantum turbulence—from superfluid helium to atomic Bose-Einstein condensates
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tsubota, Makoto
This paper reviews recent developments in the physics of quantum turbulence (QT). QT was discovered in superfluid 4He in the 1950s, while the research has taken a new direction since the middle of the 1990s. QT is comprised of quantized vortices that are definite topological defects and expected to give a prototype of turbulence much simpler than usual classical turbulence. We give a general introduction and brief review of classical turbulence followed by a description of the dynamics of quantized vortices. After mentioning the modern research trends in QT, we discuss the energy spectra, the energy cascade and the possible dissipation mechanism of QT at very low temperatures. The last part is devoted to QT in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates.
Effect of the particle-hole channel on BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chen, Qijin
BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover is effected by increasing pairing strength between fermions from weak to strong in the particle-particle channel, and has attracted a lot of attention since the experimental realization of quantum degenerate atomic Fermi gases. Here we study the effect of the (often dropped) particle-hole channel on the zero T gap Δ(0), superfluid transition temperature Tc, the pseudogap at Tc, and the mean-field ratio 2Δ(0)/, from BCS through BEC regimes, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite-momentum pairs and features a pseudogap in single particle excitation spectrum. Summing over the infinite particle-hole ladder diagrams, we find a complex dynamical structure for the particle-hole susceptibility χph, and conclude that neglecting the self-energy feedback causes a serious over-estimate of χph. While our result in the BCS limit agrees with Gor'kov et al., the particle-hole channel effect becomes more complex and pronounced in the crossover regime, where χph is reduced by both a smaller Fermi surface and a big (pseudo)gap. Deep in the BEC regime, the particle-hole channel contributions drop to zero. We predict a density dependence of the magnetic field at the Feshbach resonance, which can be used to quantify χph and test different theories.
Effect of the particle-hole channel on BCS–Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in atomic Fermi gases
Chen, Qijin
BCS–Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover is effected by increasing pairing strength between fermions from weak to strong in the particle-particle channel, and has attracted a lot of attention since the experimental realization of quantum degenerate atomic Fermi gases. Here we study the effect of the (often dropped) particle-hole channel on the zero T gap Δ(0), superfluid transition temperature Tc, the pseudogap at Tc, and the mean-field ratio 2Δ(0)/, from BCS through BEC regimes, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite-momentum pairs and features a pseudogap in single particle excitation spectrum. Summing over the infinite particle-hole ladder diagrams, we find a complex dynamical structure for the particle-hole susceptibility χph, and conclude that neglecting the self-energy feedback causes a serious over-estimate of χph. While our result in the BCS limit agrees with Gor'kov et al., the particle-hole channel effect becomes more complex and pronounced in the crossover regime, where χph is reduced by both a smaller Fermi surface and a big (pseudo)gap. Deep in the BEC regime, the particle-hole channel contributions drop to zero. We predict a density dependence of the magnetic field at the Feshbach resonance, which can be used to quantify χph and test different theories. PMID:27183875
Effect of the particle-hole channel on BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover in atomic Fermi gases.
Chen, Qijin
BCS-Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover is effected by increasing pairing strength between fermions from weak to strong in the particle-particle channel, and has attracted a lot of attention since the experimental realization of quantum degenerate atomic Fermi gases. Here we study the effect of the (often dropped) particle-hole channel on the zero T gap Δ(0), superfluid transition temperature Tc, the pseudogap at Tc, and the mean-field ratio 2Δ(0)/, from BCS through BEC regimes, using a pairing fluctuation theory which includes self-consistently the contributions of finite-momentum pairs and features a pseudogap in single particle excitation spectrum. Summing over the infinite particle-hole ladder diagrams, we find a complex dynamical structure for the particle-hole susceptibility χph, and conclude that neglecting the self-energy feedback causes a serious over-estimate of χph. While our result in the BCS limit agrees with Gor'kov et al., the particle-hole channel effect becomes more complex and pronounced in the crossover regime, where χph is reduced by both a smaller Fermi surface and a big (pseudo)gap. Deep in the BEC regime, the particle-hole channel contributions drop to zero. We predict a density dependence of the magnetic field at the Feshbach resonance, which can be used to quantify χph and test different theories.
Extended Bose Hubbard model of interacting bosonic atoms in optical lattices: From superfluidity to density waves
Mazzarella, G.; Giampaolo, S. M.; Illuminati, F.
For systems of interacting, ultracold spin-zero neutral bosonic atoms, harmonically trapped and subject to an optical lattice potential, we derive an Extended Bose Hubbard (EBH) model by developing a systematic expansion for the Hamiltonian of the system in powers of the lattice parameters and of a scale parameter, the lattice attenuation factor. We identify the dominant terms that need to be retained in realistic experimental conditions, up to nearest-neighbor interactions and nearest-neighbor hoppings conditioned by the on-site occupation numbers. In the mean field approximation, we determine the free energy of the system and study the phase diagram both at zero and at finite temperature. At variance with the standard on site Bose Hubbard model, the zero-temperature phase diagram of the EBH model possesses a dual structure in the Mott insulating regime. Namely, for specific ranges of the lattice parameters, a density wave phase characterizes the system at integer fillings, with domains of alternating mean occupation numbers that are the atomic counterparts of the domains of staggered magnetizations in an antiferromagnetic phase. We show as well that in the EBH model, a zero-temperature quantum phase transition to pair superfluidity is, in principle, possible, but completely suppressed at the lowest order in the lattice attenuation factor. Finally, we determine the possible occurrence of the different phases as a function of the experimentally controllable lattice parameters.
Atom optics and space physics: A summary of an 'Enrico Fermi' summer school
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Arimondo, Ennio; Ertmer, Wolfgang; Rasel, Ernst M.; Schleich, Wolfgang P.
We describe the scientific content of the International School of Physics 'Enrico Fermi' on atom optics and space physics, organized by the Italian Physical Society in Varenna at Lake Como, Italy, 2-13 July 2007.
Repulsive Fermi Polarons in a Resonant Mixture of Ultracold ^{6}Li Atoms.
Scazza, F; Valtolina, G; Massignan, P; Recati, A; Amico, A; Burchianti, A; Fort, C; Inguscio, M; Zaccanti, M; Roati, G
We employ radio-frequency spectroscopy to investigate a polarized spin mixture of ultracold ^{6}Li atoms close to a broad Feshbach scattering resonance. Focusing on the regime of strong repulsive interactions, we observe well-defined coherent quasiparticles even for unitarity-limited interactions. We characterize the many-body system by extracting the key properties of repulsive Fermi polarons: the energy E_{+}, the effective mass m^{*}, the residue Z, and the decay rate Γ. Above a critical interaction, E_{+} is found to exceed the Fermi energy of the bath, while m^{*} diverges and even turns negative, thereby indicating that the repulsive Fermi liquid state becomes energetically and thermodynamically unstable.
Repulsive Fermi Polarons in a Resonant Mixture of Ultracold 6Li Atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Scazza, F.; Valtolina, G.; Massignan, P.; Recati, A.; Amico, A.; Burchianti, A.; Fort, C.; Inguscio, M.; Zaccanti, M.; Roati, G.
We employ radio-frequency spectroscopy to investigate a polarized spin mixture of ultracold 6Li atoms close to a broad Feshbach scattering resonance. Focusing on the regime of strong repulsive interactions, we observe well-defined coherent quasiparticles even for unitarity-limited interactions. We characterize the many-body system by extracting the key properties of repulsive Fermi polarons: the energy E+, the effective mass m*, the residue Z , and the decay rate Γ . Above a critical interaction, E+ is found to exceed the Fermi energy of the bath, while m* diverges and even turns negative, thereby indicating that the repulsive Fermi liquid state becomes energetically and thermodynamically unstable.
Velocity-dependent quantum phase slips in 1D atomic superfluids
Tanzi, Luca; Scaffidi Abbate, Simona; Cataldini, Federica; Gori, Lorenzo; Lucioni, Eleonora; Inguscio, Massimo; Modugno, Giovanni; D'Errico, Chiara
Quantum phase slips are the primary excitations in one-dimensional superfluids and superconductors at low temperatures but their existence in ultracold quantum gases has not been demonstrated yet. We now study experimentally the nucleation rate of phase slips in one-dimensional superfluids realized with ultracold quantum gases, flowing along a periodic potential. We observe a crossover between a regime of temperature-dependent dissipation at small velocity and interaction and a second regime of velocity-dependent dissipation at larger velocity and interaction. This behavior is consistent with the predicted crossover from thermally-assisted quantum phase slips to purely quantum phase slips. PMID:27188334
Scattering properties of weakly-bound dimers of Fermi atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Petrov, Dmitry
We discuss the behavior of weakly bound bosonic dimers formed in a two-component Fermi gas with a large positive scattering length for the interspecies interaction. We present a theoretical approach for solving a few-body scattering problem and describe the physics of dimer-dimer elastic and inelastic scattering. We explain why these diatomic molecules, while in the highest ro-vibrational level, are characterized by remarkable collisional stability. Co-authors are Christophe Salomon, LKB, Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris, France; Georgy Shlyapnikov, LPTMS, University of South Paris, Orsay, France.
Two-band superfluidity and intrinsic Josephson effect in alkaline-earth-metal Fermi gases across an orbital Feshbach resonance
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Iskin, M.
We first show that the many-body Hamiltonian governing the physical properties of an alkaline-earth 173Yb Fermi gas across the recently realized orbital Feshbach resonance is exactly analogous to that of two-band s -wave superconductors with contact interactions; i.e., even though the free-particle bands have a tunable energy offset in between and are coupled by a Josephson-type attractive interband pair scattering, the intraband interactions have exactly the same strength. We then introduce two intraband order parameters within the BCS mean-field approximation and investigate the competition between their in-phase and out-of-phase (i.e., the so-called π -phase) solutions in the entire BCS-BEC evolution at zero temperature.
Polaronic atom-trimer continuity in three-component Fermi gases.
Nishida, Yusuke
Recently it has been proposed that three-component Fermi gases may exhibit a new type of crossover physics in which an unpaired Fermi sea of atoms smoothly evolves into that of trimers in addition to the ordinary BCS-BEC crossover of condensed pairs. Here we study its corresponding polaron problem in which a single impurity atom of one component interacts with condensed pairs of the other two components with equal populations. By developing a variational approach in the vicinity of a narrow Feshbach resonance, we show that the impurity atom smoothly changes its character from atom to trimer with increasing the attraction and eventually there is a sharp transition to dimer. The emergent polaronic atom-trimer continuity can be probed in ultracold atoms experiments by measuring the impurity spectral function. Our novel crossover wave function properly incorporating the polaronic atom-trimer continuity will provide a useful basis to further investigate the phase diagram of three-component Fermi gases in more general situations.
Superfluid density and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition of a spin-orbit-coupled Fulde-Ferrell superfluid
Cao, Ye; Liu, Xia -Ji; He, Lianyi; ...
We theoretically investigate the superfluid density and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition of a two-dimensional Rashba spin-orbit-coupled atomic Fermi gas with both in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. It was recently predicted that, by tuning the two Zeeman fields, the system may exhibit different exotic Fulde-Ferrell (FF) superfluid phases, including the gapped FF, gapless FF, gapless topological FF, and gapped topological FF states. Due to the FF paring, we show that the superfluid density (tensor) of the system becomes anisotropic. When an in-plane Zeeman field is applied along the x direction, the tensor component along the y direction ns,yy is generally larger thanmore » ns,xx in most parameter space. At zero temperature, there is always a discontinuity jump in ns,xx as the system evolves from a gapped FF into a gapless FF state. With increasing temperature, such a jump is gradually washed out. The critical BKT temperature has been calculated as functions of the spin-orbit-coupling strength, interatomic interaction strength, and in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. We predict that the novel FF superfluid phases have a significant critical BKT temperature, typically at the order of 0.1TF, where TF is the Fermi degenerate temperature. Furthermore, their observation is within the reach of current experimental techniques in cold-atom laboratories.« less
Superfluid density and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition of a spin-orbit-coupled Fulde-Ferrell superfluid
Cao, Ye; Liu, Xia -Ji; He, Lianyi; Long, Gui -Lu; Hu, Hui
We theoretically investigate the superfluid density and Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition of a two-dimensional Rashba spin-orbit-coupled atomic Fermi gas with both in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. It was recently predicted that, by tuning the two Zeeman fields, the system may exhibit different exotic Fulde-Ferrell (FF) superfluid phases, including the gapped FF, gapless FF, gapless topological FF, and gapped topological FF states. Due to the FF paring, we show that the superfluid density (tensor) of the system becomes anisotropic. When an in-plane Zeeman field is applied along the x direction, the tensor component along the y direction ns,yy is generally larger than ns,xx in most parameter space. At zero temperature, there is always a discontinuity jump in ns,xx as the system evolves from a gapped FF into a gapless FF state. With increasing temperature, such a jump is gradually washed out. The critical BKT temperature has been calculated as functions of the spin-orbit-coupling strength, interatomic interaction strength, and in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. We predict that the novel FF superfluid phases have a significant critical BKT temperature, typically at the order of 0.1TF, where TF is the Fermi degenerate temperature. Furthermore, their observation is within the reach of current experimental techniques in cold-atom laboratories.
Detecting many-body entanglement in noninteracting ultracold atomic Fermi gases
Levine, G. C.; Bantegui, M. J.; Friedman, B. A.
We explore the possibility of detecting many-body entanglement using time-of-flight (TOF) momentum correlations in ultracold atomic Fermi gases. In analogy to the vacuum correlations responsible for Bekenstein-Hawking black hole entropy, a partitioned atomic gas will exhibit particle-hole correlations responsible for entanglement entropy. The signature of these momentum correlations might be detected by a sensitive TOF-type experiment.
Phase-tunable Josephson junction and spontaneous mass current in a spin-orbit-coupled Fermi superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jiang, Lei; Xu, Yong; Zhang, Chuanwei
Atomtronics has the potential for engineering new types of functional devices, such as Josephson junctions (JJs). Previous studies have mainly focused on JJs whose ground states have zero or π superconducting phase difference across the junctions, while arbitrary phase-tunable JJs may have important applications in superconducting electronics and quantum computation. Here we show that a phase-tunable JJ can be implemented in a spin-orbit-coupled cold atomic gas with the magnetic tunneling barrier generated by a spin-dependent focused laser beam. We consider the JJ confined in either a linear harmonic trap or a circular ring trap. In the ring trap, the magnetic barrier induces a spontaneous mass current for the ground state of the JJ, demonstrating the magnetoelectric effects of cold atoms.
Visualization of Fermi's golden rule through imaging of light emission from atomic silver chains.
Chen, Chi; Bobisch, C A; Ho, W
Atomic-scale spatial imaging of one-dimensional chains of silver atoms allows Fermi's golden rule, a fundamental principle governing optical transitions, to be visualized. We used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to assemble a silver atom chain on a nickel-aluminum alloy surface. Photon emission was induced with electrons from the tip of the STM. The emission was spatially resolved with subnanometer resolution by changing the tip position along the chain. The number and positions of the emission maxima in the photon images match those of the nodes in the differential conductance images of particle-in-a-box states. This surprising correlation between the emission maxima and nodes in the density of states is a manifestation of Fermi's golden rule in real space for radiative transitions and provides an understanding of the mechanism of STM-induced light emission.
Binding of atoms and stability of molecules in Hartree and Thomas-Fermi type theories
Catto, I.; Lions, P.L. )
This paper is the third of a series devoted to the study of the binding of atoms, molecules and ions and of the stability of general molecular systems including molecular ions, in the context of Hartree and Thomas-Fermi type theories. For Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsaecker or Thomas-Fermi-Dirac-von Weizsaecker models, it is proven here that neutral systems can be bound and in view of the results shown in the preceding parts this yields the stability of arbitrary molecules (general neutral molecular systems). For the Hartree and Hartree-Fock models, it is proven that neutral planar systems can be bound and this yields the stability of arbitrary tetraatomic molecules for instance. Various variants and extensions are also considered. 24 refs.
Superfluidity in asymmetric nuclear matter
Sedrakian, A.; Alm, T.; Lombardo, U.
The onset of superfluidity in isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter is investigated within the BCS theory. A neutron-proton superfluid state in the channel {sup 3}S{sub 1}-{sup 3}D{sub 1} comes about from the interplay between thermal excitations and separation {delta}{mu} of the two Fermi surfaces. The superfluid state disappears above the threshold value of the density-asymmetry parameter {alpha}=(n{sub n}{minus}n{sub p})/n{approx_equal}0.35. For large enough shift between the two Fermi surfaces {delta}{mu}=(1)/(2)({mu}{sub n}{minus}{mu}{sub p}) the transition to the normal state becomes a first-order transition and a second gap solution develops. This solution, however, corresponds to a metastable superfluid state which is unstable with respect to the transition to the normal state. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Fast atoms and negative chain-cluster fragments from laser-induced Coulomb explosions in a super-fluid film of ultra-dense deuterium D(-1)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Andersson, Patrik U.; Holmlid, Leif
Fragments from laser-induced Coulomb explosions (CE) in a thin super-fluid film of ultra-dense deuterium D(-1) on a vertical surface are now observed by both negative and positive time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The so-called normal phase of the super-fluid is probably associated with D4 clusters and gives only neutral atomic fragments with a kinetic energy from the CE of 945 eV. The super-fluid phase is associated with long chain clusters D2N with N deuteron pairs and gives cluster fragments by CE mainly with a kinetic energy of 315 eV from the central cleavage in a neutral, positive or negative form. This indicates that the chain clusters are standing perpendicularly to the surface. The fragment charge state is influenced by the external field, which indicates efficient charge transfer processes.
Thermoelectricity in a junction between interacting cold atomic Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sekera, Tibor; Bruder, Christoph; Belzig, Wolfgang
A gas of interacting ultracold fermions can be tuned into a strongly interacting regime using a Feshbach resonance. Here, we theoretically study quasiparticle transport in a system of two reservoirs of interacting ultracold fermions on the BCS side of the BCS-BEC crossover coupled weakly via a tunnel junction. Using the generalized BCS theory, we calculate the time evolution of the system that is assumed to be initially prepared in a nonequilibrium state characterized by a particle number imbalance or a temperature imbalance. A number of characteristic features like sharp peaks in quasiparticle currents or transitions between the normal and superconducting states are found. We discuss signatures of the Seebeck and the Peltier effects and the resulting temperature difference of the two reservoirs as a function of the interaction parameter (kFa ) -1. The Peltier effect may lead to an additional cooling mechanism for ultracold fermionic atoms.
Spin-orbit-coupled two-electron Fermi gases of ytterbium atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Song, Bo; He, Chengdong; Zhang, Shanchao; Hajiyev, Elnur; Huang, Wei; Liu, Xiong-Jun; Jo, Gyu-Boong
We demonstrate all-optical implementation of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in a two-electron Fermi gas of 173Yb atoms by coupling two hyperfine ground states with a narrow optical transition. Due to the SU (N ) symmetry of the S10 ground-state manifold which is insensitive to external magnetic fields, an optical ac Stark effect is applied to split the ground spin states, which exhibits a high stability compared with experiments on alkali-metal and lanthanide atoms, and separate out an effective spin-1/2 subspace from other hyperfine levels for the realization of SOC. The dephasing spin dynamics when a momentum-dependent spin-orbit gap is suddenly opened and the asymmetric momentum distribution of the spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gas are observed as a hallmark of SOC. The realization of all-optical SOC for ytterbium fermions should offer a route to a long-lived spin-orbit-coupled Fermi gas and greatly expand our capability of studying spin-orbit physics with alkaline-earth-metal-like atoms.
New light on the intriguing history of superfluidity in liquid (4)He.
Griffin, Allan
Surprisingly, it was 30 years after the first liquefaction of (4)He in 1908 that the discovery that liquid (4)He is not just a 'cold' liquid was made. Below T = 2.18 K, it is a 'quantum' liquid which exhibits spectacular macroscopic quantum behaviour that can be seen with the naked eye. Since the observation of superfluidity in liquid (4)He is one of the greatest discoveries in modern physics, we present a day-to-day chronology of the tangled events which preceded the seminal discovery of zero viscosity in 1938 by Kapitza in Moscow and by Allen and Misener in Cambridge. On the theory side, London argued in 1938 that the microscopic basis for this new superfluid phase was the forgotten phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) first suggested by Einstein in 1925. In 1941, Landau developed a very successful theory of superfluid (4)He, but it was not anchored in a microscopic theory of interacting atoms. It took another 20 years for theorists to unify the two seemingly different theories of Landau and London. Experiments on trapped superfluid atomic gases since 1995 have shone new light on superfluid (4)He. In the mid-1930s, London had emphasized that superconductivity in metals and superfluidity in liquid (4)He were similar. Experiments on trapped two-component Fermi gases in the last five years have shown that a Bose condensate is indeed the basis of both of these superfluid phases. This confirms the now famous Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-BEC crossover scenario developed for superfluidity by Leggett and Nozières in the early 1980s but largely ignored until a few years ago. The study of superfluid (4)He will increasingly overlap with strongly interacting dilute quantum gases, perhaps opening up a new era of research on this most amazing liquid.
Interaction of ions, atoms, and small molecules with quantized vortex lines in superfluid {sup 4}He
Mateo, David; Eloranta, Jussi; Williams, Gary A.
The interaction of a number of impurities (H{sub 2}, Ag, Cu, Ag{sub 2}, Cu{sub 2}, Li, He{sub 3}{sup +}, He{sup *} ({sup 3}S), He{sub 2}{sup ∗} ({sup 3}Σ{sub u}), and e{sup −}) with quantized rectilinear vortex lines in superfluid {sup 4}He is calculated by using the Orsay-Trento density functional theory (DFT) method at 0 K. The Donnelly-Parks (DP) potential function binding ions to the vortex is combined with DFT data, yielding the impurity radius as well as the vortex line core parameter. The vortex core parameter at 0 K (0.74 Å) obtained either directly from the vortex line geometry or through the DP potential fitting is smaller than previously suggested but is compatible with the value obtained from re-analysis of the Rayfield-Reif experiment. All of the impurities have significantly higher binding energies to vortex lines below 1 K than the available thermal energy, where the thermally assisted escape process becomes exponentially negligible. Even at higher temperatures 1.5-2.0 K, the trapping times for larger metal clusters are sufficiently long that the previously observed metal nanowire assembly in superfluid helium can take place at vortex lines. The binding energy of the electron bubble is predicted to decrease as a function of both temperature and pressure, which allows adjusting the trap depth for either permanent trapping or to allow thermally assisted escape. Finally, a new scheme for determining the trapping of impurities on vortex lines by optical absorption spectroscopy is outlined and demonstrated for He{sup *}.
Roberts, David C
The article considers the dramatic phenomenon of seemingly frictionless flow of slow-moving superfluids. Specifically the question of whether an object in a superfluid flow experiences any drag force is addressed. A brief account is given of the history of this problem and it is argued that recent advances in ultracold atomic physics can shed much new light on this problem. The article presents the commonly held notion that sufficiently slow-moving superfluids can flow without drag and also discusses research suggesting that scattering quantum fluctuations might cause drag in a superfluid moving at any speed.
Decay of a superfluid current of ultracold atoms in a toroidal trap
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mathey, Amy C.; Clark, Charles W.; Mathey, L.
Using a numerical implementation of the truncated Wigner approximation, we simulate the experiment reported by Ramanathan et al. in Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 130401 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.130401, in which a Bose-Einstein condensate is created in a toroidal trap and set into rotation via a phase imprinting technique. A potential barrier is then placed in the trap to study the decay of the superflow. We find that the current decays via thermally activated phase slips, which can also be visualized as vortices crossing the barrier region in the radial direction. Adopting the notion of critical velocity used in the experiment, we determine it to be lower than the local speed of sound at the barrier, in contradiction to the predictions of the zero-temperature Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We map out the superfluid decay rate and critical velocity as a function of temperature and observe a strong dependence. Thermal fluctuations offer a partial explanation of the experimentally observed reduction of the critical velocity from the phonon velocity.
Bilayer honeycomb lattice with ultracold atoms: Multiple Fermi surfaces and incommensurate spin density wave instability
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dey, Santanu; Sensarma, Rajdeep
We propose an experimental setup using ultracold atoms to implement a bilayer honeycomb lattice with Bernal stacking. In the presence of a potential bias between the layers and at low densities, fermions placed in this lattice form an annular Fermi sea. The presence of two Fermi surfaces leads to interesting patterns in Friedel oscillations and RKKY interactions in the presence of impurities. Furthermore, a repulsive fermion-fermion interaction leads to a Stoner instability towards an incommensurate spin density wave order with a wave vector equal to the thickness of the Fermi sea. The instability occurs at a critical interaction strength which goes down with the density of the fermions. We find that the instability survives interaction renormalization due to vertex corrections and discuss how this can be seen in experiments. We also track the renormalization group flows of the different couplings between the fermionic degrees of freedom, and find that there are no perturbative instabilities, and that Stoner instability is the strongest instability which occurs at a critical threshold value of the interaction. The critical interaction goes to zero as the chemical potential is tuned towards the band bottom.
Spontaneous light emission by atomic hydrogen: Fermi's golden rule without cheating
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Debierre, V.; Durt, T.; Nicolet, A.; Zolla, F.
Focusing on the 2 p- 1 s transition in atomic hydrogen, we investigate through first order perturbation theory the time evolution of the survival probability of an electron initially taken to be in the excited (2 p) state. We examine both the results yielded by the standard dipole approximation for the coupling between the atom and the electromagnetic field - for which we propose a cutoff-independent regularisation - and those yielded by the exact coupling function. In both cases, Fermi's golden rule is shown to be an excellent approximation for the system at hand: we found its maximal deviation from the exact behaviour of the system to be of order 10-8 /10-7. Our treatment also yields a rigorous prescription for the choice of the optimal cutoff frequency in the dipole approximation. With our cutoff, the predictions of the dipole approximation are almost indistinguishable at all times from the exact dynamics of the system.
Fermi orbital derivatives in self-interaction corrected density functional theory: Applications to closed shell atoms
Pederson, Mark R.
A recent modification of the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction-correction to the density-functional formalism has provided a framework for explicitly restoring unitary invariance to the expression for the total energy. The formalism depends upon construction of Löwdin orthonormalized Fermi-orbitals which parametrically depend on variational quasi-classical electronic positions. Derivatives of these quasi-classical electronic positions, required for efficient minimization of the self-interaction corrected energy, are derived and tested, here, on atoms. Total energies and ionization energies in closed-shell singlet atoms, where correlation is less important, using the Perdew-Wang 1992 Local Density Approximation (PW92) functional, are in good agreement with experiment and non-relativistic quantum-Monte-Carlo results albeit slightly too low.
Fermi orbital derivatives in self-interaction corrected density functional theory: Applications to closed shell atoms.
Pederson, Mark R
A recent modification of the Perdew-Zunger self-interaction-correction to the density-functional formalism has provided a framework for explicitly restoring unitary invariance to the expression for the total energy. The formalism depends upon construction of Löwdin orthonormalized Fermi-orbitals which parametrically depend on variational quasi-classical electronic positions. Derivatives of these quasi-classical electronic positions, required for efficient minimization of the self-interaction corrected energy, are derived and tested, here, on atoms. Total energies and ionization energies in closed-shell singlet atoms, where correlation is less important, using the Perdew-Wang 1992 Local Density Approximation (PW92) functional, are in good agreement with experiment and non-relativistic quantum-Monte-Carlo results albeit slightly too low.
Unconventional states and geometric effects in mesoscopic systems of ultra-cold atomic Fermi gases
Bolech, C. J.
During the last decade, experiments all over the world started to test the superconducting state of matter using a newly developed mesoscopic tunable system: trapped ultra-cold atomic gases. Theorists and experimentalists hand-in-hand are now able to advance our understanding of the superconducting state by asking new questions that probe further into the physical mechanisms underlying the phenomenon and the door is open to the exploration of exotic unconventional superconducting states. In particular, a series of experiments on systems of trapped cold atomic gases were aimed at studying the effects of polarization on superconducting pairing. Two different experimental groups encountered surprising qualitative and quantitative discrepancies which seemed to be a function of the confining geometry and the cooling protocol. Our numerical studies demonstrate a tendency towards metastability and suggest an explanation for the observed discrepancy. From our calculations, the most likely solution which is consistent with the experiments supports a state strikingly similar to the so called FFLO state (after Ferrell, Fulde, Larkin and Ovchinnikov), which had been theorized long ago but eluded detection so far. Moreover, the three-dimensional scenario described above is reminiscent of predictions for one-dimensional systems of dilute polarized attractive gases and another set of ultra-cold-atom experiments incorporates optical lattices to study this reduced-dimensionality setting. The measurements are in quantitative agreement with theoretical calculations (using a wide array of numerical and analytic techniques) in which a partially polarized phase is found to be the one-dimensional analogue of the FFLO state. Moreover, exploring the dimensional-crossover regime, our latest findings indicate that the mesoscopic nature of these quasi-one-dimensional systems favors the appearance of a new type of Mott phase transition involving an emergent pair-superfluid of equal
Polarized superfluidity in the attractive hubbard model with population imbalance.
Dao, Tung-Lam; Ferrero, Michel; Georges, Antoine; Capone, Massimo; Parcollet, Olivier
We study a two-component Fermi system with attractive interactions and different populations of the two species in a cubic lattice. For an intermediate coupling, we find a uniformly polarized superfluid which is stable down to very low temperatures. The momentum distribution of this phase closely resembles that of the Sarma phase, characterized by two Fermi surfaces. This phase is shown to be stabilized by a potential energy gain, as in a BCS superfluid, in contrast with the unpolarized Bose-Einstein condensate which is stabilized by kinetic energy. We present general arguments suggesting that preformed pairs in the unpolarized superfluid favor the stabilization of a polarized superfluid phase.
(Almost) naked quantum criticality with non-Fermi liquid behavior at the onset of inhomogeneous Larkin-Ovchinikov superfluidity in two dimensions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Strack, Philipp; Piazza, Francesco
We present a renormalization group analysis for the non-Fermi liquid behavior and quantum criticality arising in coupled quantum wires of attractively interacting fermions with spin imbalance in two spatial dimensions.
Tuning Fermi-surface properties through quantum confinement in metallic metalattices: New metals from old atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Crespi, Vincent H.; Han, J. E.
We describe a new class of nanoscale structured metals wherein the effects of quantum confinement are combined with dispersive metallic electronic states to induce modifications to the fundamental low-energy microscopic properties of a three-dimensional metal: the density of states, the distribution of Fermi velocities, and the collective electronic response (J. E. Han and Vincent H. Crespi, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett.). The metalattice, metal-infiltrated colloidal lattice, possesses two very different length scales, lattice constants of metal atoms and of colloidal spheres. We compute the electronic properties of the metalattice using an empirical tight-binding method. As a result of the hierarchy in the two length scales, electronic states bifurcate into two classes with weak and strong dispersion. The dispersive states reflect the symmetry of the colloidal lattice and have major contribution to the transport properties such as inversion of Fermi velocity and optical response. We also discuss the magnetic structure of the metalattice with magnetic infiltrants such as Pd and Rh.
Anomalous conductance of a strongly interacting Fermi gas through a quantum point contact
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Boyang; Zhai, Hui; Zhang, Shizhong
In this work we study the particle conductance of a strongly interacting Fermi gas through a quantum point contact. With an atom-molecule two-channel model, we compute the contribution to particle conductance by both the fermionic atoms and the bosonic molecules using the Keldysh formalism. Focusing on the regime above the Fermi superfluid transition temperature, we find that the fermionic contribution to the conductance is reduced by interaction compared with the quantized value for the noninteracting case; while the bosonic contribution to the conductance exhibits a plateau with nonuniversal values that is larger than the quantized conductance. This feature is particularly profound at temperature close to the superfluid transition. We emphasize that the enhanced conductance arises because of the bosonic nature of closed channel molecules and the low dimensionality of the quantum point contact.
Inhomogeneous state of few-fermion superfluids.
Bugnion, P O; Lofthouse, J A; Conduit, G J
The few-fermion atomic gas is an ideal setting to explore inhomogeneous superfluid pairing analogous to the Larkin-Ovchinnikov state. Two up and one down-spin atom is the minimal configuration that displays an inhomogeneous pairing density, whereas imbalanced systems containing more fermions present a more complex pairing topology. With more than eight atoms trapped the system approaches the macroscopic superfluid limit. An oblate trap with a central barrier offers a direct experimental probe of pairing inhomogeneity.
Comparison between the numerical solutions and the Thomas-Fermi approximation for atomic-molecular Bose-Einstein condensates
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Santos, Leonardo S. F.; Pires, Marcelo O. C.; Giugno, Davi
We study the stationary solution of an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate coupled coherently to a molecular condensate with both repulsive and attractive interspecies interactions confined in an isotropic harmonic trap. We use the Thomas-Fermi approximation and find four kinds of analytical solution for the cases. These analytical solutions are adopted as trial function for the diffusive numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equations. For the repulsive interspecies interaction, the case in which the atomic and molecular wavefunctions are out-phase, the densities have similar profiles for both methods, however, the case where the wavefunctions are in-phase, there are considerable difference between the density profiles. For the attractive interspecies interaction, there are two cases in the Thomas-Fermi approximation where the wavefunctions are in-phase. One of them has numerical solution that agree with the approximation and the other does not have corresponding numerical solution.
Comment on "Influence of induced interactions on superfluid properties of quasi-two-dimensional dilute Fermi gases with spin-orbit coupling"
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lee, Juhee; Kim, Dong-Hee
In an article in 2013, Caldas et al. [Phys. Rev. A 88, 023615 (2013), 10.1103/PhysRevA.88.023615] derived analytical expressions of the induced interaction within the Gorkov-Melik-Barkhudarov correction in quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases with Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC). They claimed that the induced interaction is exactly the same as the one for the case without SOC when the SOC is weak, and in the region of strong SOC, it starts from a reduced value and then recovers the value for the zero SOC in the limit of large SOC. We point out that their calculations contain critical errors and inconsistencies that significantly affect the basis of these claims.
Bosonic models with Fermi-liquid kinematics: realizations and properties
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Goldbart, Paul; Gopalakrishnan, Sarang; Lamacraft, Austen
We consider models of interacting bosons in which the single-particle kinetic energy achieves its minimum on a surface in momentum space. The kinematics of such models resembles that resulting from Pauli blocking in Fermi liquids; therefore, Shankar's renormalization-group treatment of Fermi liquids can be adapted to investigate phase transitions in these bosonic systems. We explore possible experimental realizations of such models in cold atomic gases: e.g., via spin-orbit coupling, multimode-cavity-mediated interactions, and Cooper pairing of Fermi gases in spin-dependent lattices. We address the phase structure and critical behavior of the resulting models within the framework of Ref., focusing in particular on Bose-Einstein condensation and on quantum versions of the Brazovskii transition from a superfluid to a supersolid.
There are no causality problems for Fermi's two-atom system
Buchholz, D.; Yngvason, J. Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhaga 3, IS-107 Reykjavik )
A repeatedly discussed gedanken expeirment, proposed by Fermi to check Einstein causality, is reconsidered. It is shown that, contrary to a recent statement made by Hegerfeldt, there appears no causality paradox in a proper theoretical description of the experiment.
Optomechanics with superfluid He4 thin films
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Baker, Christopher; Harris, Glen; McAuslan, David; Sachkou, Yauhen; He, Xin; Sheridan, Eoin; Bowen, Warwick
Cavity optomechanics focuses on the interaction between confined light and a mechanical degree of freedom. Vibrational modes of superfluid helium-4 have recently been identified as an attractive mechanical element for cavity optomechanics, thanks to their ultra-low dissipation arising from superfluid's viscosity free flow. Here we propose and demonstrate an approach to superfluid optomechanics based on femtogram thin films of superfluid helium condensed on the surface of a microscale microtoroid optical whispering gallery mode resonator. Excitations within the film, known as third sound, manifest as surface waves with a restoring force provided by the van der Waals interaction. We experimentally probe the thermodynamics of these superfluid excitations in real-time, and demonstrate both laser cooling and amplification of the thermal motion. In addition, we propose and demonstrate an entirely new approach to optical forcing based on the atomic recoil of superfluid helium-4. This technique utilizes the thermomechanical effect of superfluids, whereby frictionless fluid flow is generated in response to a local heat source. Using this technique, we achieve superfluid forces on a microtoroid mechanical mode an order of magnitude greater than the equivalent radiation pressure force.
Fermi polaron-polaritons in charge-tunable atomically thin semiconductors
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sidler, Meinrad; Back, Patrick; Cotlet, Ovidiu; Srivastava, Ajit; Fink, Thomas; Kroner, Martin; Demler, Eugene; Imamoglu, Atac
The dynamics of a mobile quantum impurity in a degenerate Fermi system is a fundamental problem in many-body physics. The interest in this field has been renewed due to recent ground-breaking experiments with ultracold Fermi gases. Optical creation of an exciton or a polariton in a two-dimensional electron system embedded in a microcavity constitutes a new frontier for this field due to an interplay between cavity coupling favouring ultralow-mass polariton formation and exciton-electron interactions leading to polaron or trion formation. Here, we present cavity spectroscopy of gate-tunable monolayer MoSe2 (ref. ) exhibiting strongly bound trion and polaron resonances, as well as non-perturbative coupling to a single microcavity mode. As the electron density is increased, the oscillator strength determined from the polariton splitting is gradually transferred from the higher-energy repulsive exciton-polaron resonance to the lower-energy attractive exciton-polaron state. Simultaneous observation of polariton formation in both attractive and repulsive branches indicates a new regime of polaron physics where the polariton impurity mass can be much smaller than that of the electrons. Our findings shed new light on optical response of semiconductors in the presence of free carriers by identifying the Fermi polaron nature of excitonic resonances and constitute a first step in investigation of a new class of degenerate Bose-Fermi mixtures.
High-Tc spin superfluidity in antiferromagnets.
Bunkov, Yu M; Alakshin, E M; Gazizulin, R R; Klochkov, A V; Kuzmin, V V; L'vov, V S; Tagirov, M S
We report the observation of the unusual behavior of induction decay signals in antiferromagnetic monocrystals with Suhl-Nakamura interactions. The signals show the formation of the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of magnons and the existence of spin supercurrent, in complete analogy with the spin superfluidity in the superfluid (3)He and the atomic BEC of quantum gases. In the experiments described here, the temperature of the magnon BEC is a thousand times larger than in the superfluid (3)He. It opens a possibility to apply the spin supercurrent for various magnetic spintronics applications.
Experiments with Ultracold Quantum-degenerate Fermionic Lithium Atoms
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ketterle, Wolfgang
Experimental methods of laser and evaporative cooling, used in the production of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates have recently been extended to realize quantum degeneracy in trapped Fermi gases. Fermi gases are a new rich system to explore the implications of Pauli exclusion on scattering properties of the system, and ultimately fermionic superfluidity. We have produced a new macroscopic quantum system, in which a degenerate Li-6 Fermi gas coexists with a large and stable Na-23 BEC. This was accomplished using inter-species sympathetic cooling of fermionic 6Li in a thermal bath of bosonic Na-23. We have achieved high numbers of both fermions (less than 10(exp 5) and bosons (less than 10(exp 6), and Li-6 quantum degeneracy corresponding to one half of the Fermi temperature. This is the first time that a Fermi sea was produced with a condensate as a "refrigerator".
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lee, D. M.; Leggett, A. J.
A history is given of liquid 3He research from the time when 3He first became available following World War II through 1972 when the discovery of the superfluid phases was made. The Fermi liquid nature was established early on, and the Landau Fermi liquid theory provided a framework for understanding the interactions between the Fermions (quasiparticles). The theory's main triumph was to predict zero sound, which was soon discovered experimentally. Experimental techniques are treated, including adiabatic demagnetization, dilution refrigerator technology, and Pomeranchuk cooling. A description of the superfluid 3He discovery experiments using the latter two of these techniques is given. While existing theories provided a basis for understanding the newly discovered superfluid phases in terms of ℓ>0 Cooper pairs, the unexpected stability of the A phase in the high- P, high- T region of the phase diagram needed for its explanation a creative leap beyond the BCS paradigm. The use of sum rules to interpret some of the unusual magnetic resonance in liquid 3He is discussed. Eventually a complete theory of the spin dynamics of superfluid 3He was developed, which predicted many of the exciting phenomena subsequently discovered.
Fermi level de-pinning of aluminium contacts to n-type germanium using thin atomic layer deposited layers
Gajula, D. R. Baine, P.; Armstrong, B. M.; McNeill, D. W.; Modreanu, M.; Hurley, P. K.
Fermi-level pinning of aluminium on n-type germanium (n-Ge) was reduced by insertion of a thin interfacial dielectric by atomic layer deposition. The barrier height for aluminium contacts on n-Ge was reduced from 0.7 eV to a value of 0.28 eV for a thin Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} interfacial layer (∼2.8 nm). For diodes with an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} interfacial layer, the contact resistance started to increase for layer thicknesses above 2.8 nm. For diodes with a HfO{sub 2} interfacial layer, the barrier height was also reduced but the contact resistance increased dramatically for layer thicknesses above 1.5 nm.
The Equation of State of a Strongly Interacting Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Navon, Nir; Nascimbène, Sylvain; Jiang, Kaijun; Chevy, Frédéric; Salomon, Christophe
In this talk, we will present recent experimental work on the thermodynamics of strongly interacting Fermi gases. We have developed a general method to probe with high precision the Equation of State (EoS) of locally homogeneous ultracold gases [1]. This allows stringent tests of recent many-body theories. First, we focus on the finite-temperature EoS of the unpolarized unitary gas. Precise thermometry is provided by adding to the Fermi gas of ^6Li a trace of bosonic ^7Li. We show that the low-temperature properties of the strongly interacting normal phase are well described by Fermi liquid theory and we localize the superfluid transition. Second, we address the zero-temperature EoS of the spin-polarized system. Surprisingly, despite strong interactions, the polarized phase behaves as a mixture of two ideal gases: a Fermi gas of majority atoms and a non-interacting gas of dressed quasi-particles, the Fermi polarons. Finally, we will report on work in progress on the extension of our study to the BEC-BCS crossover [2]. [4pt] [1] S. Nascimbene and N. Navon, K. Jiang, F. Chevy, C. Salomon, arXiv:0911.0747, Nature (in press, 2010) [0pt] [2] N. Navon and S. Nascimbene, F. Chevy, C. Salomon, in preparation (2010)
Observing the 1D-3D Crossover in a Spin-Imbalanced Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Revelle, Melissa C.; Fry, Jacob A.; Olsen, Ben A.; Hulet, Randall G.
Trapped two-component Fermi gases phase separate into superfluid and normal phases when their spin populations are imbalanced. In 3D, a balanced superfluid core is surrounded by shells of partially polarized and normal phases, while in 1D, the balanced superfluid occupies the low density wings. We explored the crossover from 3D to 1D using a two-spin component ultracold atomic gas of 6 Li prepared in the lowest two hyperfine sublevels, where the interactions are tuned by a Feshbach resonance. The atoms are confined to 1D tubes where the tunneling rate t between tubes is varied by changing the depth of a 2D optical lattice. We observe the transition from 1D to 3D-like phase separation by varying t and interaction strength which changes the pair binding energy ɛB. We find a universal scaling of the dimensional crossover with t /ɛB , in agreement with previous theory. The crossover region is believed to be the most promising to find the exotic FFLO superfluid phase. Supported by the NSF and the Welch Foundation.
Band geometry, Berry curvature, and superfluid weight
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liang, Long; Vanhala, Tuomas I.; Peotta, Sebastiano; Siro, Topi; Harju, Ari; Törmä, Päivi
We present a theory of the superfluid weight in multiband attractive Hubbard models within the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) mean-field framework. We show how to separate the geometric contribution to the superfluid weight from the conventional one, and that the geometric contribution is associated with the interband matrix elements of the current operator. Our theory can be applied to systems with or without time-reversal symmetry. In both cases the geometric superfluid weight can be related to the quantum metric of the corresponding noninteracting systems. This leads to a lower bound on the superfluid weight given by the absolute value of the Berry curvature. We apply our theory to the attractive Kane-Mele-Hubbard and Haldane-Hubbard models, which can be realized in ultracold atom gases. Quantitative comparisons are made to state of the art dynamical mean-field theory and exact diagonalization results.
Reduction of Fermi level pinning at Au-MoS2 interfaces by atomic passivation on Au surface
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Min, Kyung-Ah; Park, Jinwoo; Wallace, Robert M.; Cho, Kyeongjae; Hong, Suklyun
Monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which is a semiconducting material with direct band gap of ˜1.8 eV, has drawn much attention for application in field effect transistors (FETs). In this connection, it is very important to understand the Fermi level pinning (FLP) which occurs at metal-semiconductor interfaces. It is known that MoS2 has an n-type contact with Au, which is a high work function metal, representing the strong FLP at Au-MoS2 interfaces. However, such FLP can obstruct the attainment of high performance of field effect devices. In this study, we investigate the reduction of FLP at Au-MoS2 interfaces by atomic passivation on Au(111) using first-principles calculations. To reduce the FLP at Au-MoS2 interfaces, we consider sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, and hydrogen atoms that can passivate the surface of Au(111). Calculations show that passivating atoms prevent the direct contact between Au(111) and MoS2, and thus FLP at Au-MoS2 interfaces is reduced by weak interaction between atom-passivated Au(111) and MoS2. Especially, FLP is greatly reduced at sulfur-passivated Au-MoS2 interfaces with the smallest binding energy. Furthermore, fluorine-passivated Au(111) can form ohmic contact with MoS2, representing almost zero Schottky barrier height (SBH). We suggest that SBH can be controlled depending on the passivating atoms on Au(111).
Exploring Quantum Degenerate Bose-Fermi Mixtures Toward Cooper Pairing of Fermionic Atoms
Deborah Jin
We have been exploring interaction dynamics in an ultracold, trapped gas of bosonic and fermionic atoms. Investigation of this new class of quantum degenerate gases concentrates on interaction dominated phenomena such as sympathetic cooling, phase separation, excitations, Feshbach resonances, and the effects of quantum degeneracy. In addition to exploring these new phenomena, we seek to understand and ultimately control the interactions in the gas. In particular, effective interactions between the fermionic atoms will be explored in the context of the longer term goal of realizing Cooper pairing of atoms.
Quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of chemically different atomic species with widely tunable interactions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Park, Jee Woo; Wu, Cheng-Hsun; Santiago, Ibon; Tiecke, Tobias; Will, Sebastian; Ahmadi, Peyman; Zwierlein, Martin
We have created a quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of ^23Na and ^40K with widely tunable interactions via broad interspecies Feshbach resonances. Over thirty Feshbach resonances between ^23Na and ^40K were identified, including p-wave multiplet resonances. The large and negative triplet background scattering length between ^23Na and ^40K causes a sharp enhancement of the fermion density in the presence of a Bose condensate. As explained via the asymptotic bound-state model (ABM), this strong background scattering leads to wide Feshbach resonances observed at low magnetic fields. Our work opens up the prospect to create chemically stable, fermionic ground state molecules of ^23Na--^40K where strong, long-range dipolar interactions would set the dominant energy scale.
Quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of chemically different atomic species with widely tunable interactions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Park, Jee Woo; Wu, Cheng-Hsun; Santiago, Ibon; Tiecke, Tobias; Ahmadi, Peyman; Zwierlein, Martin
We have created a quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of 23Na and 40K with widely tunable interactions via broad interspecies Feshbach resonances. Twenty Feshbach resonances between 23Na and 40K were identified. The large and negative triplet background scattering length between 23Na and 40K causes a sharp enhancement of the fermion density in the presence of a Bose condensate. As explained via the asymptotic bound-state model (ABM), this strong background scattering leads to a series of wide Feshbach resonances observed at low magnetic fields. Our work opens up the prospect to create chemically stable, fermionic ground state molecules of 23Na-40K where strong, long-range dipolar interactions will set the dominant energy scale.
Itinerant ferromagnetism of a repulsive atomic Fermi gas: a quantum monte carlo study.
Pilati, S; Bertaina, G; Giorgini, S; Troyer, M
We investigate the phase diagram of a two-component repulsive Fermi gas at T=0 by means of quantum Monte Carlo simulations. Both purely repulsive and resonant attractive model potentials are considered in order to analyze the limits of the universal regime where the details of interatomic forces can be neglected. The equation of state of both balanced and unbalanced systems is calculated as a function of the interaction strength and the critical density for the onset of ferromagnetism is determined. The energy of the strongly polarized gas is calculated and parametrized in terms of the physical properties of repulsive polarons, which are relevant for the stability of the fully ferromagnetic state. Finally, we analyze the phase diagram in the interaction-polarization plane under the assumption that only phases with homogeneous magnetization can be produced.
Detecting π -phase superfluids with p -wave symmetry in a quasi-one-dimensional optical lattice
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Bo; Li, Xiaopeng; Hulet, Randall G.; Liu, W. Vincent
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 3He liquids.
Effect of three-body loss on itinerant ferromagnetism in an atomic Fermi gas
Conduit, G. J.; Altman, E.
A recent experiment has provided tentative evidence for itinerant ferromagnetism in an ultracold atomic gas. However, the interpretation of the results is complicated by significant atom losses. We argue that during the loss process the system gradually heats up but remains in local equilibrium.To quantify the consequences of atom loss on the putative ferromagnetic transition we adopt an extended Hertz-Millis theory. The losses damp quantum fluctuations, thus increasing the critical interaction strength needed to induce ferromagnetism and revert the transition from being first order to second order. This effect may resolve a discrepancy between the experiment and previous theoretical predictions. We further illuminate the impact of loss by studying the collective spin excitations in the ferromagnet. Even in the fully polarized state, where loss is completely suppressed, spin waves acquire a decay rate proportional to the three-body loss coefficient.
Strongly interacting Fermi systems in 1/N expansion: From cold atoms to color superconductivity
Abuki, Hiroaki; Brauner, Tomas
We investigate the 1/N expansion proposed recently as a strategy to include quantum fluctuation effects in the nonrelativistic, attractive Fermi gas at and near unitarity. We extend the previous results by calculating the next-to-leading order corrections to the critical temperature along the whole crossover from Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superconductivity to Bose-Einstein condensation. We demonstrate explicitly that the extrapolation from the mean-field approximation, based on the 1/N expansion, provides a useful approximation scheme only on the BCS side of the crossover. We then apply the technique to the study of strongly interacting relativistic many-fermion systems. Having in mind the application to color superconductivity in cold dense quark matter, we develop, within a simple model, a formalism suitable to compare the effects of order parameter fluctuations in phases with different pairing patterns. Our main conclusion is that the relative correction to the critical temperature is to a good accuracy proportional to the mean-field ratio of the critical temperature and the chemical potential. As a consequence, it is significant even rather deep in the BCS regime, where phenomenologically interesting values of the quark-quark coupling are expected. Possible impact on the phase diagram of color-superconducting quark matter is discussed.
Binding of atoms and stability of molecules in Hartree and Thomas-Fermi type theories
Catto, I. ); Lions, P.L.
This paper is the sequel of a previous work where the authors showed a general necessary and sufficient condition for the stability of an arbitrary molecular system (possibly ionized) in the framework of Hartree or Thomas-Fermi type theories. This condition, roughly speaking, meant that certain particular subsystems have to be bound. They show here in particular that this condition reduces for general molecular system with nonnegative excess charge to the binding of all subsystems with the same property. For neutral molecular systems, this reduces to the binding of all neutral subsystems. In both cases, all other subsystems can be bound. They also show that, for the Hartree-Fock and Hartree models, this condition involves only physical subsystems. They use these reduced conditions to conclude about the stability or the binding in some particular cases. This work is also the second of a series devoted to these equations and the authors come back on the binding of neutral systems in Part 3. 18 refs.
Hysteresis in a quantized superfluid 'atomtronic' circuit.
Eckel, Stephen; Lee, Jeffrey G; Jendrzejewski, Fred; Murray, Noel; Clark, Charles W; Lobb, Christopher J; Phillips, William D; Edwards, Mark; Campbell, Gretchen K
Atomtronics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that seeks to develop new functional methods by creating devices and circuits where ultracold atoms, often superfluids, have a role analogous to that of electrons in electronics. Hysteresis is widely used in electronic circuits-it is routinely observed in superconducting circuits and is essential in radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference devices. Furthermore, it is as fundamental to superfluidity (and superconductivity) as quantized persistent currents, critical velocity and Josephson effects. Nevertheless, despite multiple theoretical predictions, hysteresis has not been previously observed in any superfluid, atomic-gas Bose-Einstein condensate. Here we directly detect hysteresis between quantized circulation states in an atomtronic circuit formed from a ring of superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate obstructed by a rotating weak link (a region of low atomic density). This contrasts with previous experiments on superfluid liquid helium where hysteresis was observed directly in systems in which the quantization of flow could not be observed, and indirectly in systems that showed quantized flow. Our techniques allow us to tune the size of the hysteresis loop and to consider the fundamental excitations that accompany hysteresis. The results suggest that the relevant excitations involved in hysteresis are vortices, and indicate that dissipation has an important role in the dynamics. Controlled hysteresis in atomtronic circuits may prove to be a crucial feature for the development of practical devices, just as it has in electronic circuits such as memories, digital noise filters (for example Schmitt triggers) and magnetometers (for example superconducting quantum interference devices).
Hysteresis in a quantized superfluid `atomtronic' circuit
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Eckel, Stephen; Lee, Jeffrey G.; Jendrzejewski, Fred; Murray, Noel; Clark, Charles W.; Lobb, Christopher J.; Phillips, William D.; Edwards, Mark; Campbell, Gretchen K.
Atomtronics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that seeks to develop new functional methods by creating devices and circuits where ultracold atoms, often superfluids, have a role analogous to that of electrons in electronics. Hysteresis is widely used in electronic circuits--it is routinely observed in superconducting circuits and is essential in radio-frequency superconducting quantum interference devices. Furthermore, it is as fundamental to superfluidity (and superconductivity) as quantized persistent currents, critical velocity and Josephson effects. Nevertheless, despite multiple theoretical predictions, hysteresis has not been previously observed in any superfluid, atomic-gas Bose-Einstein condensate. Here we directly detect hysteresis between quantized circulation states in an atomtronic circuit formed from a ring of superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate obstructed by a rotating weak link (a region of low atomic density). This contrasts with previous experiments on superfluid liquid helium where hysteresis was observed directly in systems in which the quantization of flow could not be observed, and indirectly in systems that showed quantized flow. Our techniques allow us to tune the size of the hysteresis loop and to consider the fundamental excitations that accompany hysteresis. The results suggest that the relevant excitations involved in hysteresis are vortices, and indicate that dissipation has an important role in the dynamics. Controlled hysteresis in atomtronic circuits may prove to be a crucial feature for the development of practical devices, just as it has in electronic circuits such as memories, digital noise filters (for example Schmitt triggers) and magnetometers (for example superconducting quantum interference devices).
Simulating strongly correlated electrons with a strongly interacting Fermi gas
Thomas, John E.
The quantum many-body physics of strongly-correlated fermions is studied in a degenerate, strongly- interacting atomic Fermi gas, first realized by our group with DOE support in 2002. This system, which exhibits strong spin pairing, is now widely studied and provides an important paradigm for testing predictions based on state-of-the-art many-body theory in fields ranging from nuclear matter to high temperature superfluidity and superconductivity. As the system is strongly interacting, both the superfluid and the normal fluid are nontrivial and of great interest. A central part of our program on Fermi gases is the connection between the study of thermodynamics, supported by DOE and the study of hydrodynamic transport, supported by NSF. This connection is especially interesting in view of a recent conjecture from the string theory community on the concept of nearly perfect normal fluids, which exhibit a minimum ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density in strongly-interacting, scale-invariant systems.
From ultracold Fermi Gases to Neutron Stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salomon, Christophe
Ultracold dilute atomic gases can be considered as model systems to address some pending problem in Many-Body physics that occur in condensed matter systems, nuclear physics, and astrophysics. We have developed a general method to probe with high precision the thermodynamics of locally homogeneous ultracold Bose and Fermi gases [1,2,3]. This method allows stringent tests of recent many-body theories. For attractive spin 1/2 fermions with tunable interaction (^6Li), we will show that the gas thermodynamic properties can continuously change from those of weakly interacting Cooper pairs described by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory to those of strongly bound molecules undergoing Bose-Einstein condensation. First, we focus on the finite-temperature Equation of State (EoS) of the unpolarized unitary gas. Surprisingly, the low-temperature properties of the strongly interacting normal phase are well described by Fermi liquid theory [3] and we localize the superfluid phase transition. A detailed comparison with theories including recent Monte-Carlo calculations will be presented. Moving away from the unitary gas, the Lee-Huang-Yang and Lee-Yang beyond-mean-field corrections for low density bosonic and fermionic superfluids are quantitatively measured for the first time. Despite orders of magnitude difference in density and temperature, our equation of state can be used to describe low density neutron matter such as the outer shell of neutron stars. [4pt] [1] S. Nascimbène, N. Navon, K. Jiang, F. Chevy, and C. Salomon, Nature 463, 1057 (2010) [0pt] [2] N. Navon, S. Nascimbène, F. Chevy, and C. Salomon, Science 328, 729 (2010) [0pt] [3] S. Nascimbène, N. Navon, S. Pilati, F. Chevy, S. Giorgini, A. Georges, and C. Salomon, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 215303 (2011)
Solitonic Vortex in a Strongly-Interacting Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ku, Mark; Ji, Wenjie; Mukherjee, Biswaroop; Cheuk, Lawrence; Sanchez, Elmer; Yefsah, Tarik; Zwierlein, Martin
We investigate the solitonic excitation observed in our previous experiments [Yefsah et al., Nature 499, 426 (2013)] for a unitary Fermi gas with tomographic imaging. In this work, we directly access the local density of our 3D clouds by imaging a thin layer of atoms, which we achieve with a masked pumping beam that transfers atoms outside of the selected layer into an undetected state. Using the tomographic imaging, which circumvents the density integration along the probing axis, we identify unambiguously this excitation as a solitonic vortex. In particular, we rule out the vortex ring scenario predicted by several theory groups. Our measurements provide a quantitative benchmark for the theories of non-equilibrium dynamics of strongly-interacting superfluids.
Unitary Fermi Gas, ɛ Expansion, and Nonrelativistic Conformal Field Theories
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nishida, Yusuke; Son, Dam Thanh
We review theoretical aspects of unitary Fermi gas (UFG), which has been realized in ultracold atom experiments. We first introduce the ɛ expansion technique based on a systematic expansion in terms of the dimensionality of space. We apply this technique to compute the thermodynamic quantities, the quasiparticle cum, and the criticl temperature of UFG. We then discuss consequences of the scale and conformal invariance of UFG. We prove a correspondence between primary operators in nonrelativistic conformal field theories and energy eigenstates in a harmonic potential. We use this correspondence to compute energies of fermions at unitarity in a harmonic potential. The scale and conformal invariance together with the general coordinate invariance constrains the properties of UFG. We show the vanishing bulk viscosities of UFG and derive the low-energy effective Lagrangian for the superfluid UFG. Finally we propose other systems exhibiting the nonrelativistic scaling and conformal symmetries that can be in principle realized in ultracold atom experiments.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Anderson, Herbert L.
The final installment of the author's recollections of his work with physicists Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard and others in developing the first controlled nuclear chain reaction and in preparing the test explosion of the first atomic bomb. (GS)
Quadrupole oscillations in Bose-Fermi mixtures of ultracold atomic gases made of Yb atoms in the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii and Vlasov equations
Maruyama, Tomoyuki; Yabu, Hiroyuki
We study quadrupole collective oscillations in the bose-fermi mixtures of ultracold atomic gases of Yb isotopes, which are realized by Kyoto group. Three kinds of combinations are chosen, {sup 170}Yb-{sup 171}Yb, {sup 170}Yb-{sup 173}Yb and {sup 174}Yb-{sup 173}Yb, where boson-fermion interactions are weakly repulsive, strongly attractive and strongly repulsive respectively. Collective oscillations in these mixtures are calculated in a dynamical time-evolution approach with the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii and the Vlasov equations. The boson oscillations are shown to have one collective mode, and the fermions are shown to have the boson-forced and two intrinsic modes, which correspond to the inside- and outside-fermion oscillations for the boson-distributed regions. The oscillations obtained in the dynamical approach show discrepancies from the results obtained in the small-amplitude approximations, e.g., the random phase approximation, except in the case of weak boson-fermion interactions. We also analyze these discrepancies, and show that they originated in the change of the fermion distributions through oscillation.
Landau damping in a dipolar Bose-Fermi mixture in the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) limit
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Moniri, S. M.; Yavari, H.; Darsheshdar, E.
By using a mean-field approximation which describes the coupled oscillations of condensate and noncondensate atoms in the collisionless regime, Landau damping in a dilute dipolar Bose-Fermi mixture in the BEC limit where Fermi superfluid is treated as tightly bounded molecules, is investigated. In the case of a uniform quasi-two-dimensional (2D) case, the results for the Landau damping due to the Bose-Fermi interaction are obtained at low and high temperatures. It is shown that at low temperatures, the Landau damping rate is exponentially suppressed. By increasing the strength of dipolar interaction, and the energy of boson quasiparticles, Landau damping is suppressed over a broader temperature range.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pang, Tao
A quantum model is proposed to describe the motion of ions in the 4He superfluid. The interaction between the ions and 4He atoms is expressed in terms of the structure factor and quasiparticle operators of the quantum liquid. This model Hamiltonian is solved by a variational scheme. On the basis of the nonparabolic energy-momentum spectum of the dressed ions, an explanation is given for the linear temperature dependence of the ion effective mass observed in the experiments. The study reveals some interesting aspects of the interaction between classical particles and quantum fields.
Erika Bailey
The Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 1 (Fermi 1) was a fast breeder reactor design that was cooled by sodium and operated at essentially atmospheric pressure. On May 10, 1963, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) granted an operating license, DPR-9, to the Power Reactor Development Company (PRDC), a consortium specifically formed to own and operate a nuclear reactor at the Fermi 1 site. The reactor was designed for a maximum capability of 430 megawatts (MW); however, the maximum reactor power with the first core loading (Core A) was 200 MW. The primary system was filled with sodium in December 1960 and criticality was achieved in August 1963.
La vitesse critique de Landau d'une particule dans un superfluide de fermions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Castin, Yvan; Ferrier-Barbut, Igor; Salomon, Christophe
We determine à la Landau the critical velocity vcL of a moving impurity in a Fermi superfluid, that is by restricting it to the minimal excitation processes of the superfluid. vcL is then the minimal velocity at which these processes are energetically allowed. The Fermi superfluid actually exhibits two excitation branches: one is the fermionic pair-breaking excitation, as predicted by BCS theory; the other one is bosonic and sets pairs into motion, as predicted by Anderson's RPA. vcL is the smallest of the two corresponding critical velocities vc,fL and vc,bL. In the parameter space (superfluid interaction strength, fermion-to-impurity mass ratio), we identify two transition lines, corresponding to a discontinuity of the first-order and second-order derivatives of vcL. These two lines meet in a triple point and split the plane in three domains. We briefly extend this analysis to the very recently realized case at ENS, where the moving object in the Fermi superfluid is a weakly interacting Bose superfluid of impurities, rather than a single impurity. For a Bose chemical potential much smaller than the Fermi energy, the topology of the transition lines is unaffected; a key result is that the domain vcL = c, where c is the sound velocity in the Fermi superfluid, is turned into a domain vcL = c +cB, where cB is the sound velocity in the Bose superfluid, with slightly shifted boundaries.
Detecting π-phase superfluids with p-wave symmetry in a quasi-1D optical lattice
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Bo; Li, Xiaopeng; Hulet, Randall G.; Liu, W. Vincent
We propose an experimental protocol to create a p-wave superfluid in a spin-polarized cold Fermi gas tuned by an s-wave Feshbach resonance. A crucial ingredient is to add an anisotropic 3D 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. 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 a novel approach to synthetic magnetic fields for neutral atoms. It would represent another example of p-wave pairing, first discovered in He-3 liquids. Work supported in part by U.S. ARO, AFOSR, NSF, ONR, Charles E. Kaufman Foundation, and The Pittsburgh Foundation, LPS-MPO-CMTC, JQI-NSF-PFC, ARO-Atomtronics-MURI, the Welch Foundation, ARO-MURI and NSF of China.
Study of the properties of dilute Fermi gases in the strongly interacting regime
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chang, Soon Yong
Quantum degenerate Fermi gases can be created in the laboratories using alkali atoms. These gases can be in different regimes of density and interaction strength and provide an ideal test bed for the basic properties of the quantum and statistical mechanics. Also some astrophysical objects such as neutron stars can be idealized as interacting fermion systems. In this thesis work, the ground state properties of dilute Fermi gases with attractive short range two-body interactions are reported. Main results of this work are produced by application of quantum Monte Carlo methods. We introduce variational nodal structure to the trial wave function in order to deal with the fermion sign problem. We consider the possibility of Cooper pairing between fermions of different species. The strength of the interaction is varied to study different pairing regimes which are characterized by the product of the s-wave scattering length a and the Fermi wave vector k F. We also review some of the conventional variational methods such as the Lowest Order Constrained Variational which is suitable for Fermi fluids without pairing correlation. The ground state energy, pairing gap Delta, quasi-particle spectrum, two-body distribution function, and momentum distribution of the superfluid were studied with greater accuracy using ab initio quantum Monte Carlo techniques. In the case of the two component Fermi fluid, we find that in the weak coupling regime, 1/akF < -1, the system is a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer type superfluid and the energy gap Delta is much smaller than the Fermi gas energy EFG. For 1/akF ≥ 0.5 we find that weakly interacting composite bosons or molecules are formed in the superfluid gas with Delta and gas energy per particle approaching half of the molecular energy |Emol|/2. In this region we seem to have Bose-Einstein condensation of molecules. The behavior of the energy, chemical potential and energy gap in the transition region, -0.5 < 1/ak F < 0.5, is discussed. The
Superfluid Brillouin optomechanics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kashkanova, A. D.; Shkarin, A. B.; Brown, C. D.; Flowers-Jacobs, N. E.; Childress, L.; Hoch, S. W.; Hohmann, L.; Ott, K.; Reichel, J.; Harris, J. G. E.
Optomechanical systems couple an electromagnetic cavity to a mechanical resonator which typically is a solid object. The range of phenomena accessible in these systems depends on the properties of the mechanical resonator and on the manner in which it couples to the cavity fields. In both respects, a mechanical resonator formed from superfluid liquid helium offers several appealing features: low electromagnetic absorption, high thermal conductivity, vanishing viscosity, well-understood mechanical loss, and in situ alignment with cryogenic cavities. In addition, it offers degrees of freedom that differ qualitatively from those of a solid. Here, we describe an optomechanical system consisting of a miniature optical cavity filled with superfluid helium. The cavity mirrors define optical and mechanical modes with near-perfect overlap, resulting in an optomechanical coupling rate ~3 kHz. This coupling is used to drive the superfluid and is also used to observe the thermal motion of the superfluid, resolving a mean phonon number as low as eleven.
Spontaneous quantum Hall effect in an atomic spinor Bose-Fer mi mixture
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Xu, Zhi-Fang; Li, Xiaopeng; Zoller, Peter; Liu, W. Vincent
We study a mixture of spin-1 bosonic and spin-1/2 fermionic cold atoms, e.g., Rb-87 and Li-6,confined in a triangular optical lattice. With fermions at 3/4 filling, Fermi surface nesting leads to spontaneous formation of various spin textures of bosons in the ground state, such as collinear, coplanar and even non-coplanar spin orders. The phase diagram is mapped out with varying boson tunneling and Bose-Fermi interactions. Most significantly, in one non-coplanar state the mixture is found to exhibit spontaneous quantum Hall effect in fermions and crystalline superfluidity in bosons, both driven by interaction.
Observation of a pairing pseudogap in a two-dimensional Fermi gas.
Feld, Michael; Fröhlich, Bernd; Vogt, Enrico; Koschorreck, Marco; Köhl, Michael
Pairing of fermions is ubiquitous in nature, underlying many phenomena. Examples include superconductivity, superfluidity of (3)He, the anomalous rotation of neutron stars, and the crossover between Bose-Einstein condensation of dimers and the BCS (Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer) regime in strongly interacting Fermi gases. When confined to two dimensions, interacting many-body systems show even more subtle effects, many of which are not understood at a fundamental level. Most striking is the (as yet unexplained) phenomenon of high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxides, which is intimately related to the two-dimensional geometry of the crystal structure. In particular, it is not understood how the many-body pairing is established at high temperature, and whether it precedes superconductivity. Here we report the observation of a many-body pairing gap above the superfluid transition temperature in a harmonically trapped, two-dimensional atomic Fermi gas in the regime of strong coupling. Our measurements of the spectral function of the gas are performed using momentum-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, analogous to angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy in the solid state. Our observations mark a significant step in the emulation of layered two-dimensional strongly correlated superconductors using ultracold atomic gases.
Magnetic-modulation spectroscopy of an atomic Fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover: Dissociation spectra in the Bose-Einstein condensate regime
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Plata, J.
The effect of magnetic-field modulation on a Fermi gas of atoms in the BCS-BEC crossover is studied analytically. Recent experimental findings on the system response to a sinusoidal variation of the field are explained. Specifically, the dissociation processes induced by the modulation in the Bose-Einstein condensate regime are described. The role played by the frequency, amplitude, and application time of the perturbation in the emergence of the observed behavior is clarified. The results uncover also the relevance of the detuning from the Feshbach resonance to the appearance of particular spectral features. The applicability of the field modulation as a spectroscopic tool for probing the crossover is discussed.
Triplet superfluidity on a triangular ladder with dipolar fermions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pandey, Bradraj; Pati, Swapan K.
Motivated by recent experimental progress in the field of dipolar-Fermi gases, we investigate the quantum phases of dipolar fermions on a triangular ladder at half filling. Using density matrix renormalization group method, in the presence of onsite repulsion and intersite attractive interaction, we find an exotic spin-triplet superfluid phase in addition to the usual spin-density and charge-density waves. We examine the stability of the spin-triplet superfluid phase by varying hopping along the rungs of the triangle. The possibility of fermionic supersolidity has also been discussed, by considering three-body interaction in the Hamiltonian. We also study the effect of spin-dependent hopping on the stability of the spin-triplet superfluid phase.
Classical Vs. Superfluid Turbulence
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Roche, P.-E.
Thanks to a zero-viscosity, superfluids offer a unique testing ground for hydrodynamic models, in particular for turbulence ones. In Kolmogorov's turbulence model, viscosity is well known to damp the kinetic energy of the smallest eddies, and thus to introduce a cut-off at one end of the turbulent cascade. Significant differences between this ``classical'' turbulence and the turbulence of a superfluid are therefore expected, but --surprisingly- most experiments rather evidenced strong similarities. We will give an overview of a set of experiments designed to compare in details the classical versus superfluid turbulences, up to a record mass flow of superfluid (700g/s of He @ 1.6K). Then, we will focus on some unexpected vorticity measurements, which can be interpreted assuming that the superfluid vortices are passively advected by the largest scales of the flow, in contrast with the ``classical'' turbulence counterpart. Numerical simulations -based on regular DNS- will be presented to complete this interpretation. In collaboration with C. Barenghi, University of Newcastle; B. Castaing and E. Levèque, ENSL, Lyon; S. David, IEF, CNRS, Orsay; B. Rousset, SBT/CEA, Grenoble; and P. Tabeling, H. Willaime MMN, ESPCI, Paris.
Exploring the thermodynamics of a universal Fermi gas.
Nascimbène, S; Navon, N; Jiang, K J; Chevy, F; Salomon, C
One of the greatest challenges in modern physics is to understand the behaviour of an ensemble of strongly interacting particles. A class of quantum many-body systems (such as neutron star matter and cold Fermi gases) share the same universal thermodynamic properties when interactions reach the maximum effective value allowed by quantum mechanics, the so-called unitary limit. This makes it possible in principle to simulate some astrophysical phenomena inside the highly controlled environment of an atomic physics laboratory. Previous work on the thermodynamics of a two-component Fermi gas led to thermodynamic quantities averaged over the trap, making comparisons with many-body theories developed for uniform gases difficult. Here we develop a general experimental method that yields the equation of state of a uniform gas, as well as enabling a detailed comparison with existing theories. The precision of our equation of state leads to new physical insights into the unitary gas. For the unpolarized gas, we show that the low-temperature thermodynamics of the strongly interacting normal phase is well described by Fermi liquid theory, and we localize the superfluid transition. For a spin-polarized system, our equation of state at zero temperature has a 2 per cent accuracy and extends work on the phase diagram to a new regime of precision. We show in particular that, despite strong interactions, the normal phase behaves as a mixture of two ideal gases: a Fermi gas of bare majority atoms and a non-interacting gas of dressed quasi-particles, the fermionic polarons.
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Binding of atoms and stability of molecules in Hartree and Thomas-Fermi type theories. Part I: A necessary and sufficient condition for the stability of general molecular systems
Catto, I.; Lions, P.L. )
The authors study here the binding of atoms and molecules and the stability of general molecular systems including molecular ions. This is the first paper of a series devoted to the study of these general problems. The authors obtain here a general necessary and sufficient condition for the stability of a general molecular system in the context of Thomas-Fermi-Von Weizsaecker, Thomas-Fermi-Dirac-Von Weizsaecker, Hartree or Hartree-Fock theories. 20 refs.
Ultrabaric relativistic superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Papini, G.; Weiss, M.
Ultrabaric superfluid solutions are obtained for Einstein's equations to examine the possibility of the existence of superluminal sound speeds. The discussion is restricted only by requiring the energy-momentum tensor and the equation of state of matter to be represented by full relativistic equations. Only a few universes are known to satisfy the conditions, and those exhibit tension and are inflationary. Superluminal sound velocities are shown, therefore, to be possible for the interior Schwarzchild metric, which has been used to explain the red shift of quasars, and the Stephiani solution (1967). The latter indicates repeated transitions between superluminal and subliminal sound velocities in the hyperbaric superfluid of the early universe.
Phase diagram of a non-Abelian Aubry-André-Harper model with p -wave superfluidity
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Jun; Liu, Xia-Ji; Xianlong, Gao; Hu, Hui
We study theoretically a one-dimensional quasiperiodic Fermi system with topological p -wave superfluidity, which can be deduced from a topologically nontrivial tight-binding model on the square lattice in a uniform magnetic field and subject to a non-Abelian gauge field. The system may be regarded as a non-Abelian generalization of the well-known Aubry-André-Harper model. We investigate its phase diagram as a function of the strength of the quasidisorder and the amplitude of the p -wave order parameter through a number of numerical investigations, including a multifractal analysis. There are four distinct phases separated by three critical lines, i.e., two phases with all extended wave functions [(I) and (IV)], a topologically trivial phase (II) with all localized wave functions, and a critical phase (III) with all multifractal wave functions. Phase (I) is related to phase (IV) by duality. It also seems to be related to phase (II) by duality. Our proposed phase diagram may be observable in current cold-atom experiments, in view of simulating non-Abelian gauge fields and topological insulators/superfluids with ultracold atoms.
Anomalous Transport in the Superfluid Fluctuation Regime
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Uchino, Shun; Ueda, Masahito
Motivated by a recent experiment in ultracold atoms [S. Krinner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 113, 8144 (2016), 10.1073/pnas.1601812113], we analyze transport of attractively interacting fermions through a one-dimensional wire near the superfluid transition. We show that in a ballistic regime where the conductance is quantized in the absence of interaction, the conductance is renormalized by superfluid fluctuations in reservoirs. In particular, the particle conductance is strongly enhanced, and the conductance plateau is blurred by emergent bosonic pair transport. For spin transport, in addition to the contact resistance, the wire itself is resistive, leading to a suppression of the measured spin conductance. Our results are qualitatively consistent with the experimental observations.
Anisotropic superfluidity in a dipolar Bose gas
Ticknor, Christopher; Wilson, Ryan M; Bohn, John L
A quintessential feature of superfluidity is the ability to support dissipationless flow, for example, when an object moves through a superfluid and experiences no drag. This, however, only occurs when the object is moving below a certain critical velocity; when it exceeds this critical velocity it dissipates energy into excitations of the superfluid, resulting in a net drag force on the object and the breakdown of superfluid flow. In many superfluids, such as dilute Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of atoms with contact interactions, this critical velocity is simply the speed of sound in the system, where the speed of sound is set by the density and the s-wave scattering length of the atoms. However, for other superfluids, such as liquid {sup 4}He, this is not the case. In {sup 4}He, the critical velocity is set by a roton mode, corresponding to a peak in the static structure factor of the system at some finite, non-zero momentum, with a characteristic velocity that is considerably less than the speed of sound in the liquid. This feature has been verified experimentally via measurements of ion-drift velocity in the fluid, thereby providing insight into the detailed structure of the system. Interestingly, a roton-like feature was predicted to exist in the dispersion relation of a quasi-two-dimensional (q2D) dipolar BEC (DBEC) [16], or a BEC with dipole-dipole interactions. However, unlike the dispersion of {sup 4}He, the disperSion of a DBEC is highly tunable as a function of the condensate density or dipole-dipole interaction (ddi) strength. Additionally, the DBEC is set apart from liquid {sup 4}He in that its interactions depend on how the dipoles are oriented in space. Thus, the DBEC provides an ideal system to study the effects that anisotropies have on the bulk properties of a superfluid, such as the critical velocity. Here we consider a DBEC in a quasi-two-dimensional (q2D) geometry and allow for the dipoles to be polarized at a nonzero angle into the plane
Experimental Observation of a Topological Band Gap Opening in Ultracold Fermi Gases with Two-Dimensional Spin-Orbit Coupling
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meng, Zengming; Huang, Lianghui; Peng, Peng; Li, Donghao; Chen, Liangchao; Xu, Yong; Zhang, Chuanwei; Wang, Pengjun; Zhang, Jing
The recent experimental realization of synthetic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) opens a new avenue for exploring novel quantum states with ultracold atoms. However, in experiments for generating two-dimensional SOC (e.g., Rashba type), a perpendicular Zeeman field, which opens a band gap at the Dirac point and induces many topological phenomena, is still lacking. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally realize a simple scheme for generating two-dimensional SOC and a perpendicular Zeeman field simultaneously in ultracold Fermi gases by tuning the polarization of three Raman lasers that couple three hyperfine ground states of atoms. The resulting band gap opening at the Dirac point is probed using spin injection radio-frequency spectroscopy. Our observation may pave the way for exploring topological transport and topological superfluids with exotic Majorana and Weyl fermion excitations in ultracold atoms.
Cavitation in flowing superfluid helium
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Daney, D. E.
Flowing superfluid helium cavitates much more readily than normal liquid helium, and there is a marked difference in the cavitation behavior of the two fluids as the lambda point is traversed. Examples of cavitation in a turbine meter and centrifugal pump are given, together with measurements of the cavitation strength of flowing superfluid helium. The unusual cavitation behavior of superfluid helium is attributed to its immense thermal conductivity .
Sound modes in holographic superfluids
Herzog, Christopher P.; Yarom, Amos
Superfluids support many different types of sound waves. We investigate the relation between the sound waves in a relativistic and a nonrelativistic superfluid by using hydrodynamics to calculate the various sound speeds. Then, using a particular holographic scalar gravity realization of a strongly interacting superfluid, we compute first, second, and fourth sound speeds as a function of the temperature. The relativistic low temperature results for second sound differ from Landau's well known prediction for the nonrelativistic, incompressible case.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Penanen, Konstantin
The performance of clocks is limited by the characteristics of the underlying oscillator. Both the quality factor of the oscillator and the signal-to-noise ratio for the resonator state measurement are important. A superfluid helium Helmholtz resonator operating at approx.100mK temperatures has the potential of maintaining frequency stability of 5x10(exp -15)/t(exp 1/2) on the time scale of a few months. The high dynamic range of lossless SQUID position displacement measurement, and low losses associated with the superfluid flow, combined with high mechanical stability of cryogenic assemblies, contribute to the projected stability. Low overall mass of the assembly allows for multiple stages of vibration isolation.
Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator
Swift, Gregory W.; Kotsubo, Vincent Y.
A cryogenic refrigerator cools a heat source by cyclically concentrating and diluting the amount of .sup.3 He in a single phase .sup.3 He-.sup.4 He solution. The .sup.3 He in superfluid .sup.4 He acts in a manner of an ideal gas in a vacuum. Thus, refrigeration is obtained using any conventional thermal cycle, but preferably a Stirling or Carnot cycle. A single phase solution of liquid .sup.3 He at an initial concentration in superfluid .sup.4 He is contained in a first variable volume connected to a second variable volume through a superleak device that enables free passage of .sup.4 He while restricting passage of .sup.3 He. The .sup.3 He is compressed (concentrated) and expanded (diluted) in a phased manner to carry out the selected thermal cycle to remove heat from the heat load for cooling below 1 K.
Superfluid thermodynamic cycle refrigerator
Swift, G.W.; Kotsubo, V.Y.
A cryogenic refrigerator cools a heat source by cyclically concentrating and diluting the amount of [sup 3]He in a single phase [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He solution. The [sup 3]He in superfluid [sup 4]He acts in a manner of an ideal gas in a vacuum. Thus, refrigeration is obtained using any conventional thermal cycle, but preferably a Stirling or Carnot cycle. A single phase solution of liquid [sup 3]He at an initial concentration in superfluid [sup 4]He is contained in a first variable volume connected to a second variable volume through a superleak device that enables free passage of [sup 4]He while restricting passage of [sup 3]He. The [sup 3]He is compressed (concentrated) and expanded (diluted) in a phased manner to carry out the selected thermal cycle to remove heat from the heat load for cooling below 1 K. 12 figs.
Itinerant-localized dual character of a strongly correlated superfluid Bose gas in an optical lattice
Ohashi, Y.; Kitaura, M.; Matsumoto, H.
We investigate a strongly correlated Bose gas in an optical lattice. Extending the standard-basis operator method developed by Haley and Erdoes to a boson Hubbard model, we calculate excitation spectra in the superfluid phase, as well as in the Mott insulating phase, at T=0. In the Mott phase, the excitation spectrum has a finite energy gap, reflecting the localized character of atoms. In the superfluid phase, the excitation spectrum is shown to have an itinerant-localized dual structure, where the gapless Bogoliubov mode (which describes the itinerant character of superfluid atoms) and a band with a finite energy gap coexist. We also show that the rf-tunneling current measurement would give useful information about the duality of a strongly correlated superfluid Bose gas near the superfluid-insulator transition.
Low-lying excitations in a strongly interacting Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vale, Christopher; Hoinka, Sascha; Dyke, Paul; Lingham, Marcus
We present measurements of the low-lying excitation spectrum of a strongly interacting Fermi gas across the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) to Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) crossover using Bragg spectroscopy. By focussing the Bragg lasers onto the central volume of the cloud we can probe atoms at near-uniform density allowing measurement of the homogeneous density-density response function. The Bragg wavevector is set to be approximately half of the Fermi wavevector to probe the collective response. Below the superfluid transition temperature the Bragg spectra dominated by the Bogoliubov-Anderson phonon mode. Single particle excitations become visible at energies greater than twice the pairing gap. As interactions are tuned from the BCS to BEC regime the phonon and single particle modes separate apart and both the pairing gap and speed of sound can be directly read off in certain regions of the crossover. Single particle pair-breaking excitations become heavily suppressed as interactions are tuned from the BCS to BEC regimes.
Creation evidence of the second non-dispersive Zakharenko wave by helium atomic beams in superfluid helium-II at low temperatures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zakharenko, A. A.
In this work, the experimental results of the creation of the second non-dispersive Zakharenko wave (C_{ph}=C_{g} ≠ 0) in the negative roton branch (the so-called second sound) of the bulk elementary excitations (BEEs) energy spectra are introduced. Several BEE signals detected by a bolometer situated in the isotopically pure liquid helium-II at low temperatures ˜100 mK are shown, which give evidence of negative roton creation in the liquid by helium atomic beams striking the liquid surface. The negative roton signals were clearly distinguished by the following ways: the negative roton signal created by helium atomic beams appeared earlier than the positive roton signal created by the beams, and presence of both positive and negative roton signals together. It is natural that the negative roton creation by the beams requires the ^{4}He-atom energies ˜12 K, while the positive roton creation by the atomic beams requires energies ˜35 K. Therefore, successive increase in the heater power resulting in an increase in the ^{4}He-atom energies gives solid evidence that the negative rotons are first created in the liquid by the helium atomic beams.
Counter-flow instability of a quantum mixture of two superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Abad, Marta; Recati, Alessio; Stringari, Sandro; Chevy, Frédéric
We study the instability of a mixture of two interacting counter-flowing superfluids. For a homogeneous system, we show that superfluid hydrodynamics leads to the existence of a dynamical instability at a critical value of the relative velocity vcr. When the interspecies coupling is small the critical value approaches the value vcr = c1 + c2, given by the sum of the sound velocities of the two uncoupled superfluids, in agreement with the recent prediction of [Y. Castin, I. Ferrier-Barbut, C. Salomon, arXiv:1408.1326 (2014)] based on Landau's argument. The crucial dependence of the critical velocity on the interspecies coupling is explicitly discussed. Our results agree with previous predictions for weakly interacting Bose-Bose mixtures and applies to Bose-Fermi superfluid mixtures as well. Results for the stability of transversally trapped mixtures are also presented.
Symmetry-Protected Topological Superfluids and Superconductors —From the Basics to 3He—
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mizushima, Takeshi; Tsutsumi, Yasumasa; Kawakami, Takuto; Sato, Masatoshi; Ichioka, Masanori; Machida, Kazushige
In this article, we give a comprehensive review of recent progress in research on symmetry-protected topological superfluids and topological crystalline superconductors, and their physical consequences such as helical and chiral Majorana fermions. We start this review article with the minimal model that captures the essence of such topological materials. The central part of this article is devoted to the superfluid 3He, which serves as a rich repository of novel topological quantum phenomena originating from the intertwining of symmetries and topologies. In particular, it is emphasized that the quantum fluid confined to nanofabricated geometries possesses multiple superfluid phases composed of the symmetry-protected topological superfluid B-phase, the A-phase as a Weyl superfluid, the nodal planar and polar phases, and the crystalline ordered stripe phase. All these phases generate noteworthy topological phenomena, including topological phase transitions concomitant with spontaneous symmetry breaking, Majorana fermions, Weyl superfluidity, emergent supersymmetry, spontaneous edge mass and spin currents, topological Fermi arcs, and exotic quasiparticles bound to topological defects. In relation to the mass current carried by gapless edge states, we also briefly review a longstanding issue on the intrinsic angular momentum paradox in 3He-A. Moreover, we share the current status of our knowledge on the topological aspects of unconventional superconductors, such as the heavy-fermion superconductor UPt3 and superconducting doped topological insulators, in connection with the superfluid 3He.
Interplay between Rashba spin-orbit coupling and adiabatic rotation in a two-dimensional Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Doko, E.; Subaşı, A. L.; Iskin, M.
We explore the trap profiles of a two-dimensional atomic Fermi gas in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit coupling and under an adiabatic rotation. We first consider a noninteracting gas and show that the competition between the effects of Rashba coupling on the local density of single-particle states and the Coriolis effects caused by rotation gives rise to a characteristic ring-shaped density profile that survives at experimentally accessible temperatures. Furthermore, Rashba splitting of the Landau levels gives the density profiles a ziggurat shape in the rapid-rotation limit. We then consider an interacting gas under the BCS mean-field approximation for local pairing, and study the pair-breaking mechanism that is induced by the Coriolis effects on superfluidity, where we calculate the critical rotation frequencies both for the onset of pair breaking and for the complete destruction of superfluidity in the system. In particular, by comparing the results of a fully-quantum-mechanical Bogoliubov-de Gennes approach with those of a semiclassical local-density approximation, we construct extensive phase diagrams for a wide range of parameter regimes in the trap where the aforementioned competition may, e.g., favor an outer normal edge that is completely phase separated from the central superfluid core by vacuum.
Cronin, James
A combination of the discovery of nuclear fission and the circumstances of the 2nd World War brought Enrico Fermi to Chicago, where he led the team that produced the first controlled, self-sustained nuclear chain reaction. Following the war in 1945 Chancellor Hutchins, William Zachariasen, and Walter Bartky convinced Fermi to accept a professorship at the University of Chicago, where the Institute for Nuclear Studies was established. Fermi served as the leading figure in surely the greatest collection of scientists the world has ever seen. Fermi's tenure at Chicago was cut short by his death in 1954. My talk will concentrate on the years 1945-54. Examples of his research notebooks, his speeches, his teaching, and his correspondence will be discussed.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hennigar, Robie A.; Mann, Robert B.; Tjoa, Erickson
We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ -line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid 4He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.
Hennigar, Robie A; Mann, Robert B; Tjoa, Erickson
We present what we believe is the first example of a "λ-line" phase transition in black hole thermodynamics. This is a line of (continuous) second order phase transitions which in the case of liquid ^{4}He marks the onset of superfluidity. The phase transition occurs for a class of asymptotically anti-de Sitter hairy black holes in Lovelock gravity where a real scalar field is conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss the origin of this phase transition and outline the circumstances under which it (or generalizations of it) could occur.
Shear viscosity due to phonons in superfluid neutron stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Manuel, Cristina; Tolos, Laura
We compute the contribution of phonons to the shear viscosity η in superfluid neutron stars, assuming neutron pairing in a S01 channel. We use a Boltzmann equation amended by a collision term that takes into account the binary collisions of phonons. We use effective field theory techniques to extract the phonon scattering rates, written as a function of the equation of state of the system. Our formulation is rather general, and can be used to extract the shear viscosity due to binary collisions of phonons for other superfluids, such as the cold Fermi gas in the unitarity limit. We find that η∝1/T5, the proportionality factor depending on the equation of state of the system. Our results indicate that the phonon contribution to η cannot be ignored and might have relevant effects in the dynamics of the different oscillation modes of the star.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Gradwohl, Ben-Ami
The universe may have undergone a superfluid-like phase during its evolution, resulting from the injection of nontopological charge into the spontaneously broken vacuum. In the presence of vortices this charge is identified with angular momentum. This leads to turbulent domains on the scale of the correlation length. By restoring the symmetry at low temperatures, the vortices dissociate and push the charges to the boundaries of these domains. The model can be scaled (phenomenologically) to very low energies, it can be incorporated in a late time phase transition and form large scale structure in the boundary layers of the correlation volumes. The novel feature of the model lies in the fact that the dark matter is endowed with coherent motion. The possibilities of identifying this flow around superfluid vortices with the observed large scale bulk motion is discussed. If this identification is possible, then the definite prediction can be made that a more extended map of peculiar velocities would have to reveal large scale circulations in the flow pattern.
Few-Body Precursor of the Higgs Mode in a Fermi Gas.
Bjerlin, J; Reimann, S M; Bruun, G M
We demonstrate that an undamped few-body precursor of the Higgs mode can be investigated in a harmonically trapped Fermi gas. Using exact diagonalization, the lowest monopole mode frequency is shown to depend nonmonotonically on the interaction strength, having a minimum in a crossover region. The minimum deepens with increasing particle number, reflecting that the mode is the few-body analogue of a many-body Higgs mode in the superfluid phase, which has a vanishing frequency at the quantum phase transition point to the normal phase. We show that this mode mainly consists of coherent excitations of time-reversed pairs, and that it can be selectively excited by modulating the interaction strength, using, for instance, a Feshbach resonance in cold atomic gases.
Vortex annihilation and inverse cascades in two dimensional superfluid turbulence
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lucas, Andrew; Chesler, Paul M.
The dynamics of a dilute mixture of vortices and antivortices in a turbulent two-dimensional superfluid at finite temperature is well described by first order Hall-Vinen-Iordanskii equations, or dissipative point vortex dynamics. These equations are governed by a single dimensionless parameter: the ratio of the strength of drag forces to Magnus forces on vortices. When this parameter is small, we demonstrate using numerical simulations that the resulting superfluid enjoys an inverse energy cascade where small scale stirring leads to large scale vortex clustering. We argue analytically and numerically that the vortex annihilation rate in a laminar flow may be parametrically smaller than the rate in a turbulent flow with an inverse cascade. This suggests a new way to detect inverse cascades in experiments on two-dimensional superfluid turbulence using cold atomic gases, where traditional probes of turbulence such as the energy spectrum are not currently accessible.
Fermi-liquid theory of ultracold trapped Fermi gases: Implications for pseudogap physics and other strongly correlated phases
Chien, Chih-Chun; Levin, K.
We show how Fermi-liquid theory can be applied to ultracold Fermi gases, thereby expanding their ''simulation'' capabilities to a class of problems of interest to multiple physics subdisciplines. We introduce procedures for measuring and calculating position-dependent Landau parameters. This lays the groundwork for addressing important controversial issues: (i) the suggestion that thermodynamically, the normal state of a unitary gas is indistinguishable from a Fermi liquid and (ii) that a fermionic system with strong repulsive contact interactions is associated with either ferromagnetism or localization; this relates as well to {sup 3}He and its p-wave superfluidity.
Determination of the fermion pair size in a resonantly interacting superfluid.
Schunck, Christian H; Shin, Yong-Il; Schirotzek, André; Ketterle, Wolfgang
Fermionic superfluidity requires the formation of particle pairs, the size of which varies from the femtometre scale in neutron stars and nuclei to the micrometre scale in conventional superconductors. Many properties of the superfluid depend on the pair size relative to the interparticle spacing. This is expressed in 'BCS-BEC crossover' theories, describing the crossover from a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS)-type superfluid of loosely bound, large Cooper pairs to Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of tightly bound molecules. Such a crossover superfluid has been realized in ultracold atomic gases where high-temperature superfluidity has been observed. The microscopic properties of the fermion pairs can be probed using radio-frequency spectroscopy. However, previous work was difficult to interpret owing to strong final-state interactions that were not well understood. Here we realize a superfluid spin mixture in which such interactions have negligible influence and present fermion pair dissociation spectra that reveal the underlying pairing correlations. This allows us to determine that the spectroscopic pair size in the resonantly interacting gas is 20 per cent smaller than the interparticle spacing. These are the smallest pairs so far observed in fermionic superfluids, highlighting the importance of small fermion pairs for superfluidity at high critical temperatures. We have also identified transitions from fermion pairs to bound molecular states and to many-body bound states in the case of strong final-state interactions.
A new numerical approach to solve Thomas-Fermi model of an atom using bio-inspired heuristics integrated with sequential quadratic programming.
Raja, Muhammad Asif Zahoor; Zameer, Aneela; Khan, Aziz Ullah; Wazwaz, Abdul Majid
In this study, a novel bio-inspired computing approach is developed to analyze the dynamics of nonlinear singular Thomas-Fermi equation (TFE) arising in potential and charge density models of an atom by exploiting the strength of finite difference scheme (FDS) for discretization and optimization through genetic algorithms (GAs) hybrid with sequential quadratic programming. The FDS procedures are used to transform the TFE differential equations into a system of nonlinear equations. A fitness function is constructed based on the residual error of constituent equations in the mean square sense and is formulated as the minimization problem. Optimization of parameters for the system is carried out with GAs, used as a tool for viable global search integrated with SQP algorithm for rapid refinement of the results. The design scheme is applied to solve TFE for five different scenarios by taking various step sizes and different input intervals. Comparison of the proposed results with the state of the art numerical and analytical solutions reveals that the worth of our scheme in terms of accuracy and convergence. The reliability and effectiveness of the proposed scheme are validated through consistently getting optimal values of statistical performance indices calculated for a sufficiently large number of independent runs to establish its significance.
Aharonian, F.; Bernloehr, K.; Bochow, A.; Buehler, R.; Akhperjanian, A. G.; Anton, G.; Brucker, J.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Chadwick, P. M.; Bazer-Bachi, A. R.; Borrel, V.; Behera, B.; Boisson, C.; Brion, E.; Brun, P.; Buesching, I.; Boutelier, T. E-mail: email@example.com E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
We report on the first simultaneous observations that cover the optical, X-ray, and high-energy gamma-ray bands of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. The gamma-ray bands were observed for 11 days, between 2008 August 25 and 2008 September 6 (MJD 54704-54715), jointly with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the HESS atmospheric Cherenkov array, providing the first simultaneous MeV-TeV spectral energy distribution (SED) with the new generation of {gamma}-ray telescopes. The ATOM telescope and the RXTE and Swift observatories provided optical and X-ray coverage of the low-energy component over the same time period. The object was close to the lowest archival X-ray and very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) state, whereas the optical flux was much higher. The light curves show relatively little ({approx}30%) variability overall when compared to past flaring episodes, but we find a clear optical/VHE correlation and evidence for a correlation of the X-rays with the high-energy spectral index. Contrary to previous observations in the flaring state, we do not find any correlation between the X-ray and VHE components. Although synchrotron self-Compton models are often invoked to explain the SEDs of BL Lac objects, the most common versions of these models are at odds with the correlated variability we find in the various bands for PKS 2155-304.
Simultaneous Observations of PKS 2155--304 with H.E.S.S., Fermi, RXTE and ATOM: Spectral Energy Distributions and Variability in a Low State
Aharonian, F.; Akhperjanian, A.G.; Anton, G.; Barres de Almeida, U.; Bazer-Bachi, A.R.; Becherini, Y.; Behera, B.; Bernlohr, K.; Boisson, C.; Bochow, A.; Borrel, V.; Brion, E.; Brucker, J.; Brun, P.; Buhler, R.; Bulik, T.; Busching, I.; Boutelier, T.; Chadwick, P.M.; Charbonnier, A.; Chaves, R.C.G.; /more authors..
We report on the first simultaneous observations that cover the optical, X-ray, and high-energy gamma-ray bands of the BL Lac object PKS 2155-304. The gamma-ray bands were observed for 11 days, between 2008 August 25 and 2008 September 6 (MJD 54704-54715), jointly with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the HESS atmospheric Cherenkov array, providing the first simultaneous MeV-TeV spectral energy distribution (SED) with the new generation of {gamma}-ray telescopes. The ATOM telescope and the RXTE and Swift observatories provided optical and X-ray coverage of the low-energy component over the same time period. The object was close to the lowest archival X-ray and very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) state, whereas the optical flux was much higher. The light curves show relatively little ({approx}30%) variability overall when compared to past flaring episodes, but we find a clear optical/VHE correlation and evidence for a correlation of the X-rays with the high-energy spectral index. Contrary to previous observations in the flaring state, we do not find any correlation between the X-ray and VHE components. Although synchrotron self-Compton models are often invoked to explain the SEDs of BL Lac objects, the most common versions of these models are at odds with the correlated variability we find in the various bands for PKS 2155-304.
Phase separation in a polarized Fermi gas with spin-orbit coupling
Yi, W.; Guo, G.-C.
We study the phase separation of a spin-polarized Fermi gas with spin-orbit coupling near a wide Feshbach resonance. As a result of the competition between spin-orbit coupling and population imbalance, the phase diagram for a uniform gas develops a rich structure of phase separation involving topologically nontrivial gapless superfluid states. We then demonstrate the phase separation induced by an external trapping potential and discuss the optimal parameter region for the experimental observation of the gapless superfluid phases.
Unconventional Superfluidity in Yttrium Iron Garnet Films
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sun, Chen; Nattermann, Thomas; Pokrovsky, Valery L.
We argue that the magnon condensate in yttrium iron garnet may display experimentally observable superfluidity at room temperature despite the 100 times dominance of the normal density over superfluid ones. The superfluidity has a more complicated nature than in known superfluids since the U(1) symmetry of the global phase shift is violated by the dipolar interaction leading to the exchange of spin moment between the condensate and the crystal lattice. It produces periodic inhomogeneity in the stationary superfluid flow. We discuss the manner of observation and possible applications of magnon superfluidity. It may strongly enhance the spin-torque effects and reduce the energy consumption of the magnonic devices.
Coherence Times of Bose-Einstein Condensates beyond the Shot-Noise Limit via Superfluid Shielding
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Burton, William Cody; Kennedy, Colin J.; Chung, Woo Chang; Vadia, Samarth; Chen, Wenlan; Ketterle, Wolfgang
We demonstrate a new way to extend the coherence time of separated Bose-Einstein condensates that involves immersion into a superfluid bath. When both the system and the bath have similar scattering lengths, immersion in a superfluid bath cancels out inhomogeneous potentials either imposed by external fields or inherent in density fluctuations due to atomic shot noise. This effect, which we call superfluid shielding, allows for coherence lifetimes beyond the projection noise limit. We probe the coherence between separated condensates in different sites of an optical lattice by monitoring the contrast and decay of Bloch oscillations. Our technique demonstrates a new way that interactions can improve the performance of quantum devices.
Relativistic superfluidity and vorticity from the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Xiong, Chi; Good, Michael R. R.; Guo, Yulong; Liu, Xiaopei; Huang, Kerson
We investigate superfluidity, and the mechanism for creation of quantized vortices, in the relativistic regime. The general framework is a nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation in curved spacetime for a complex scalar field, whose phase dynamics gives rise to superfluidity. The mechanisms discussed are local inertial forces (Coriolis and centrifugal), and current-current interaction with an external source. The primary application is to cosmology, but we also discuss the reduction to the nonrelativistic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which is widely used in describing superfluidity and vorticity in liquid helium and cold-trapped atomic gases.
Experimental studies of spin-imbalanced Fermi gases in 2D geometries
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Thomas, John
We study the thermodynamics of a quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gas, which is not quite two-dimensional (2D), but far from three dimensional (3D). This system offers opportunities to test predictions that cross interdisciplinary boundaries, such as enhanced superfluid transition temperatures in spin-imbalanced quasi-2D superconductors, and provides important benchmarks for calculations of the phase diagrams. In the experiments, an ultra-cold Fermi gas is confined in an infrared CO2 laser standing-wave, which produces periodic pancake-shaped potential wells, separated by 5.3 μm. To study the thermodynamics, we load an ultra-cold mixture of N1 = 800 spin 1/2 -up and N2
Revised FINAL–REPORT NO. 2: INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATORY SURVEY SUMMARY AND RESULTS FOR THE ENRICO FERMI ATOMIC POWER PLANT, UNIT 1, NEWPORT, MICHIGAN (DOCKET NO. 50 16; RFTA 10-004) 2018-SR-02-1
Erika Bailey
The Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 1 (Fermi 1) was a fast breeder reactor design that was cooled by sodium and operated at essentially atmospheric pressure. On May 10, 1963, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) granted an operating license, DPR-9, to the Power Reactor Development Company (PRDC), a consortium specifically formed to own and operate a nuclear reactor at the Fermi 1 site. The reactor was designed for a maximum capability of 430 megawatts (MW); however, the maximum reactor power with the first core loading (Core A) was 200 MW. The primary system was filled with sodium in December 1960 and criticality was achieved in August 1963. The reactor was tested at low power during the first couple years of operation. Power ascension testing above 1 MW commenced in December 1965 immediately following the receipt of a high-power operating license. In October 1966 during power ascension, zirconium plates at the bottom of the reactor vessel became loose and blocked sodium coolant flow to some fuel subassemblies. Two subassemblies started to melt and the reactor was manually shut down. No abnormal releases to the environment occurred. Forty-two months later after the cause had been determined, cleanup completed, and the fuel replaced, Fermi 1 was restarted. However, in November 1972, PRDC made the decision to decommission Fermi 1 as the core was approaching its burn-up limit. The fuel and blanket subassemblies were shipped off-site in 1973. Following that, the secondary sodium system was drained and sent off-site. The radioactive primary sodium was stored on-site in storage tanks and 55 gallon (gal) drums until it was shipped off-site in 1984. The initial decommissioning of Fermi 1 was completed in 1975. Effective January 23, 1976, DPR-9 was transferred to the Detroit Edison Company (DTE) as a 'possession only' license (DTE 2010a). This report details the confirmatory activities performed during the second Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE
Transition from a Two-Dimensional Superfluid to a One-Dimensional Mott Insulator
Bergkvist, Sara; Rosengren, Anders; Saers, Robert; Lundh, Emil; Rehn, Magnus; Kastberg, Anders
A two-dimensional system of atoms in an anisotropic optical lattice is studied theoretically. If the system is finite in one direction, it is shown to exhibit a transition between a two-dimensional superfluid and a one-dimensional Mott insulating chain of superfluid tubes. Monte Carlo simulations are consistent with the expectation that the phase transition is of Kosterlitz-Thouless type. The effect of the transition on experimental time-of-flight images is discussed.
Resonant quasiparticle-ion scattering in anisotropic superfluid 3He
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salmelin, R. H.; Salomaa, M. M.
Low-energy excitations in quantum fluids are most directly encountered by ions. In the superfluid phases of 3He the relevant elementary excitations are Bogoliubov quasiparticles, which undergo repeated scattering off an ion in the presence of a divergent density of states. We present a quantum-mechanical calculation of the resonant 3He quasiparticle-scattering-limited mobility for negative ions in the anisotropic bulk 3A (A phase) and 3P (polar phase) that is exact when the quasiparticles scatter elastically. We develop a numerical scheme to solve the singular equations for quasiparticle-ion scattering in the A and P phases. Both of these superfluid phases feature a uniaxially symmetric order parameter but distinct topology for the magnitude of the energy gap on the Fermi sphere, i.e., points versus lines of nodes. In particular, the perpetual orbital circulation of Cooper pairs in 3A results in a novel, purely quantum-mechanical intrinsic Magnus effect, which is absent in the polar phase, where Cooper pairs possess no spontaneous orbital angular momentum. This is of interest also for transport properties of heavy-fermion superconductors. We discuss the 3He quasiparticle-ion cross sections, which allow one to account for the mobility data with essentially no free parameters. The calculated mobility thus facilitates an introduction of ``ion spectroscopy'' to extract useful information on fundamental properties of the superfluid state, such as the temperature dependence of the energy gap in 3A.
Universal spin transport in a strongly interacting Fermi gas.
Sommer, Ariel; Ku, Mark; Roati, Giacomo; Zwierlein, Martin W
Transport of fermions, particles with half-integer spin, is central to many fields of physics. Electron transport runs modern technology, defining states of matter such as superconductors and insulators, and electron spin is being explored as a new carrier of information. Neutrino transport energizes supernova explosions following the collapse of a dying star, and hydrodynamic transport of the quark-gluon plasma governed the expansion of the early Universe. However, our understanding of non-equilibrium dynamics in such strongly interacting fermionic matter is still limited. Ultracold gases of fermionic atoms realize a pristine model for such systems and can be studied in real time with the precision of atomic physics. Even above the superfluid transition, such gases flow as an almost perfect fluid with very low viscosity when interactions are tuned to a scattering resonance. In this hydrodynamic regime, collective density excitations are weakly damped. Here we experimentally investigate spin excitations in a Fermi gas of (6)Li atoms, finding that, in contrast, they are maximally damped. A spin current is induced by spatially separating two spin components and observing their evolution in an external trapping potential. We demonstrate that interactions can be strong enough to reverse spin currents, with components of opposite spin reflecting off each other. Near equilibrium, we obtain the spin drag coefficient, the spin diffusivity and the spin susceptibility as a function of temperature on resonance and show that they obey universal laws at high temperatures. In the degenerate regime, the spin diffusivity approaches a value set by [planck]/m, the quantum limit of diffusion, where [planck]/m is Planck's constant divided by 2π and m the atomic mass. For repulsive interactions, our measurements seem to exclude a metastable ferromagnetic state.
Observation of a superfluid Hall effect
Jiménez-García, Karina; Williams, Ross A.; Beeler, Matthew C.; Perry, Abigail R.; Phillips, William D.; Spielman, Ian B.
Measurement techniques based upon the Hall effect are invaluable tools in condensed-matter physics. When an electric current flows perpendicular to a magnetic field, a Hall voltage develops in the direction transverse to both the current and the field. In semiconductors, this behavior is routinely used to measure the density and charge of the current carriers (electrons in conduction bands or holes in valence bands)—internal properties of the system that are not accessible from measurements of the conventional resistance. For strongly interacting electron systems, whose behavior can be very different from the free electron gas, the Hall effect's sensitivity to internal properties makes it a powerful tool; indeed, the quantum Hall effects are named after the tool by which they are most distinctly measured instead of the physics from which the phenomena originate. Here we report the first observation of a Hall effect in an ultracold gas of neutral atoms, revealed by measuring a Bose–Einstein condensate's transport properties perpendicular to a synthetic magnetic field. Our observations in this vortex-free superfluid are in good agreement with hydrodynamic predictions, demonstrating that the system's global irrotationality influences this superfluid Hall signal. PMID:22699494
Rotating a Rashba-coupled Fermi gas in two dimensions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Doko, E.; Subaşı, A. L.; Iskin, M.
We analyze the interplay of adiabatic rotation and Rashba spin-orbit coupling on the BCS-BEC evolution of a harmonically trapped Fermi gas in two dimensions under the assumption that vortices are not excited. First, by taking the trapping potential into account via both the semiclassical and exact quantum-mechanical approaches, we firmly establish the parameter regime where the noninteracting gas forms a ring-shaped annulus. Then, by taking the interactions into account via the BCS mean-field approximation, we study the pair-breaking mechanism that is induced by rotation, i.e., the Coriolis effects. In particular, we show that the interplay allows for the possibility of creating either an isolated annulus of rigidly rotating normal particles that is disconnected from the central core of nonrotating superfluid pairs or an intermediate mediator phase where the superfluid pairs and normal particles coexist as a partially rotating gapless superfluid.
Trapped 173Yb Fermi gas across an orbital Feshbach resonance
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Iskin, M.
Starting with the two-band description of an orbital Feshbach resonance, we study superfluid properties of a trapped 173Yb Fermi gas under the assumptions of a local-density approximation for the trapping potential and a mean-field approximation for the intraband Cooper pairings. In particular, we investigate the competition and interplay between the pair-breaking effect that is caused by the interband detuning energy, and the pair-breaking and thermal-broadening effects that are simultaneously caused by the temperature. We predict several experimental signatures that are directly caused by this interplay including a spatial separation of superfluid and normal phases within the trap, and could play decisive roles in probing two-band superfluidity in these systems.
Finite-momentum superfluidity and phase transitions in a p-wave resonant Bose gas
Choi, Sungsoo; Radzihovsky, Leo
We study a degenerate two-species gas of bosonic atoms interacting through a p-wave Feshbach resonance as, for example, realized in a {sup 85}Rb-{sup 87}Rb mixture. We show that, in addition to a conventional atomic and a p-wave molecular spinor-1 superfluidity at large positive and negative detunings, respectively, the system generically exhibits a finite-momentum atomic-molecular superfluidity at intermediate detuning around the unitary point. We analyze the detailed nature of the corresponding phases and the associated quantum and thermal phase transitions.
Dynamical vortices in superfluid films
Arovas, D.P.; Freire, J.A.
The coupling of superfluid film to a moving vortex is a gauge coupling entirely dictated by topology. From the definition of a linking number, one can define a gauge field scr(A){sup {mu}}, whose (2+1)-dimensional curl is the vortex three-current J{sup {mu}}, and to which the superfluid is minimally coupled. We compute the superfluid density and current response to a moving vortex. Exploiting the analogy to (2+1)-dimensional electrodynamics, we compute the effective vortex mass M({omega}) and find that it is logarithmically divergent in the {omega}{r_arrow}0 limit, with a constant imaginary part, yielding a super-Ohmic dissipation in the presence of an oscillating superflow. Numerical integration of the nonlinear Schr{umlt o}dinger equation supports these conclusions. The interaction of vortices with impurities coupling to the density also is discussed. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Self consistent theories of superfluid density and collective modes in BCS-BEC
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Boyack, Rufus; Anderson, Brandon; Wu, Chien-Te; Levin, Kathryn
Establishing fully self consistent and sum rule compatible response functions in strongly correlated Fermi superfluids has been a historically challenging subject. In this talk, we present recent progress pertaining to response functions in many-body Fermi systems. We note that even in strict BCS theory, the textbook derivation of density and current response functions in the gradient expansion breaks certain conservation laws such as the compressibility sum rule. To include additional contributions that preserve all expected conservation laws, we show how to exploit Ward identities within two different t-matrix schemes. In this way we address the density-density response (including collective modes) and the superfluid density. Finally, we characterize approximations made in the literature where some consistency requirements have been dropped.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yang, Chen Ning
Enrico Fermi was, of all the great physicists of the 20th century, among the most respected and admired. He was respected and admired because of his contributions to both theoretical and experimental physics, because of his leadership in discovering for mankind a powerful new source of energy, and above all, because of his personal character. He was always reliable and trustworthy. He had both of his feet on the ground all the time. He had great strength, but never threw his weight around. He did not play to the gallery. He did not practise one-up-manship. He exemplified, I always believe, the perfect Confucian gentleman...
Cooling a Band Insulator with a Metal: Fermionic Superfluid in a Dimerized Holographic Lattice
Haldar, Arijit; Shenoy, Vijay B.
A cold atomic realization of a quantum correlated state of many fermions on a lattice, eg. superfluid, has eluded experimental realization due to the entropy problem. Here we propose a route to realize such a state using holographic lattice and confining potentials. The potentials are designed to produces a band insulating state (low heat capacity) at the trap center, and a metallic state (high heat capacity) at the periphery. The metal "cools" the central band insulator by extracting out the excess entropy. The central band insulator can be turned into a superfluid by tuning an attractive interaction between the fermions. Crucially, the holographic lattice allows the emergent superfluid to have a high transition temperature – even twice that of the effective trap temperature. The scheme provides a promising route to a laboratory realization of a fermionic lattice superfluid, even while being adaptable to simulate other many body states. PMID:25324029
Cooling a Band Insulator with a Metal: Fermionic Superfluid in a Dimerized Holographic Lattice
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Haldar, Arijit; Shenoy, Vijay B.
A cold atomic realization of a quantum correlated state of many fermions on a lattice, eg. superfluid, has eluded experimental realization due to the entropy problem. Here we propose a route to realize such a state using holographic lattice and confining potentials. The potentials are designed to produces a band insulating state (low heat capacity) at the trap center, and a metallic state (high heat capacity) at the periphery. The metal ``cools'' the central band insulator by extracting out the excess entropy. The central band insulator can be turned into a superfluid by tuning an attractive interaction between the fermions. Crucially, the holographic lattice allows the emergent superfluid to have a high transition temperature - even twice that of the effective trap temperature. The scheme provides a promising route to a laboratory realization of a fermionic lattice superfluid, even while being adaptable to simulate other many body states. Reference: Scientific Reports 4, 6665 (2014). Work supported by CSIR, DST and DAE.
Fluctuation theory of Rashba Fermi gases: Gaussian and beyond
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shenoy, Vijay B.; Vyasanakere, Jayantha P.
Fermi gases with generalized Rashba spin orbit coupling induced by a synthetic gauge field have the potential of realizing many interesting states such as rashbon condensates and topological phases. Here we address the key open problem of the fluctuation theory of such systems and demonstrate that beyond-Gaussian effects are essential to capture finite temperature physics of such systems. We obtain their phase diagram by constructing an approximate non-Gaussian theory. We conclusively establish that spin-orbit coupling can enhance the exponentially small transition temperature (Tc) of a weakly attracting superfluid to the order of Fermi temperature, paving a pathway towards high Tc superfluids. Work supported by CSIR, DST, DAE and IUSSTF.
Exotic Paired States with Anisotropic Spin-Dependent Fermi Surfaces
Feiguin, Adrian E.; Fisher, Matthew P. A.
We propose a model for realizing exotic paired states in cold Fermi gases by using a spin-dependent optical lattice to engineer mismatched Fermi surfaces for each hyperfine species. The BCS phase diagram shows a stable paired superfluid state with coexisting pockets of momentum space with gapless unpaired carriers, similar to the Sarma state in polarized mixtures, but in our case the system is unpolarized. We propose the possible existence of an exotic 'Cooper-pair Bose-metal' phase, which has a gap for single fermion excitations but gapless and uncondensed 'Cooper-pair' excitations residing on a 'Bose surface' in momentum space.
Hydrodynamics in a Degenerate, Strongly Attractive Fermi Gas
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Thomas, John E.; Kinast, Joseph; Hemmer, Staci; Turlapov, Andrey; O'Hara, Ken; Gehm, Mike; Granade, Stephen
In summary, we use all-optical methods with evaporative cooling near a Feshbach resonance to produce a strongly interacting degenerate Fermi gas. We observe hydrodynamic behavior in the expansion dynamics. At low temperatures, collisions may not explain the expansion dynamics. We observe hydrodynamics in the trapped gas. Our observations include collisionally-damped excitation spectra at high temperature which were not discussed above. In addition, we observe weakly damped breathing modes at low temperature. The observed temperature dependence of the damping time and hydrodynamic frequency are not consistent with collisional dynamics nor with collisionless mean field interactions. These observations constitute the first evidence for superfluid hydrodynamics in a Fermi gas.
Dong, J. M.; Zuo, W.; Lombardo, U.; Zhang, H. F.
The Fermi surface depletion of beta-stable nuclear matter is calculated to study its effects on several physical properties that determine the neutron star (NS) thermal evolution. The neutron and proton Z factors measuring the corresponding Fermi surface depletions are calculated within the Brueckner–Hartree–Fock approach, employing the AV18 two-body force supplemented by a microscopic three-body force. Neutrino emissivity, heat capacity, and in particular neutron {sup 3}PF{sub 2} superfluidity, turn out to be reduced, especially at high baryonic density, to such an extent that the cooling rates of young NSs are significantly slowed.
Binding of atoms and stability of molecules in Hartree and Thomas-Fermi type theories. Part 4: Binding of neutral systems for the Hartree model
Catto, I.; Lions, P.L. )
This paper is the fourth of a series devoted to the study of the stability of general molecular systems in Thomas-Fermi or Hartree type models. In the preceding part, the authors proved the binding of arbitrary neutral systems for Thomas-Fermi type theories and of planar neutral systems for the Hartree model. In this part, they manage to get rid of this restriction and thus prove the binding and the stability of arbitrary neutral systems for the Hartree model. 23 refs.
Vorticity matching in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Samuels, David C.
Recent experiments have rekindled interest in high Reynolds number flows using superfluid helium. In a continuing series of experiments, the flow of helium II through various devices (smooth pipes, corrugated pipes, valves, venturies, turbine flowmeters, and coanda flowmeters for example) was investigated. In all cases, the measured values (typically, mass flow rates and pressure drops) were found to be well described by classical relations for high Reynolds flows. This is unexpected since helium II consists of two interpenetrating fluids; one fluid with nonzero viscosity (the normal fluid) and one with zero viscosity (the superfluid). Only the normal fluid component should directly obey classical relations. Since the experiments listed above only measure the external behavior of the flow (i.e., pressure drops over devices), there is a great deal of room for interpretation of their results. One possible interpretation is that in turbulent flows the normal fluid and the superfluid velocity fields are somehow 'locked' together, presumably by the mutual friction force between the superfluid vortex filaments and the normal fluid. We refer to this locking together of the two fluids as 'vorticity matching.'
Holographic Superfluid and STU Model
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Saadat, H.; Pourhassan, B.
In this study we consider STU model as dual picture of superfluid. By using AdS/CFT correspondence we obtain sound modes as a function of black hole charge and temperature. We find that the second sound has linear behavior with charge and fourth sound yields to one by increasing black hole charge.
A recuperative superfluid stirling refrigerator
Brisson, J.G.; Swift, G.W.
A superfluid Stirling refrigerator has been built with a counterflow heat exchanger serving as a recuperative regenerator. It has achieved temperatures of 296 mK with a 4% {sup 3}He-{sup 4}He mixture. Cooling power versus temperature and speed is presented for a 6.6% mixture.
Quantum Mechanical Models Of The Fermi Shuttle
Sternberg, James
The Fermi shuttle is a mechanism in which high energy electrons are produced in an atomic collision by multiple collisions with a target and a projectile atom. It is normally explained purely classically in terms of the electron's orbits prescribed in the collision. Common calculations to predict the Fermi shuttle use semi-classical methods, but these methods still rely on classical orbits. In reality such collisions belong to the realm of quantum mechanics, however. In this paper we discuss several purely quantum mechanical calculations which can produce the Fermi shuttle. Being quantum mechanical in nature, these calculations produce these features by wave interference, rather than by classical orbits.
Human-factors control-room-design review draft audit report: Detroit Edison Company, Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant--Unit 2
Savage, J.W.
A human factors audit of the Fermi-2 control room was conducted April 27 through May 1, 1981. This report contains the audit team findings, organized according to the draft NUREG-0700 guidelines sections. The discrepancies identified during the audit are categorized according to their severity and the required schedule for their resolution.
Superfluidity and vortices in dense quark matter
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mallavarapu, Satyanarayana Kumar
This dissertation will elucidate specific features of superfluid behavior in dense quark matter, It will start with issues regarding spontaneous decay of superfluid vortices in dense quark matter. This will be followed by topics that explain superfluid phenomena from field theoretical viewpoint. In particular the first part of the dissertation will talk about superfluid vortices in the color-flavor-locked (CFL) phase of dense quark matter which are known to be energetically disfavored as compared to well-separated triplets of "semi-superfluid" color flux tubes. In this talk we will provide results which will identify regions in parameter space where the superfluid vortex spontaneously decays. We will also discuss the nature of the mode that is responsible for the decay of a superfluid vortex in dense quark matter. We will conclude by mentioning the implications of our results to neutron stars. In the field theoretic formulation of a zero-temperature superfluid one connects the superfluid four-velocity which is a macroscopic observable with a microscopic field variable namely the gradient of the phase of a Bose-Condensed scalar field. On the other hand, a superfluid at nonzero temperatures is usually described in terms of a two-fluid model: the superfluid and the normal fluid. In the later part of the dissertation we offer a deeper understanding of the two-fluid model by deriving it from an underlying microscopic field theory. In particular, we shall obtain the macroscopic properties of a uniform, dissipationless superfluid at low temperatures and weak coupling within the framework of a ϕ 4 model. Though our study is very general, it may also be viewed as a step towards understanding the superfluid properties of various phases of dense nuclear and quark matter in the interior of compact star.
A Ring with a Spin: Superfluidity in a toroidal Bose-Einstein condensate
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ramanathan, Anand Krishnan
Superfluidity is a remarkable phenomenon. Superfluidity was initially characterized by flow without friction, first seen in liquid helium in 1938, and has been studied extensively since. Superfluidity is believed to be related to, but not identical to Bose-Einstein condensation, a statistical mechanical phenomena predicted by Albert Einstein in 1924 based on the statistics of Satyendra Nath Bose, where bosonic atoms make a phase transition to form a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), a gas which has macroscopic occupation of a single quantum state. Developments in laser cooling of neutral atoms and the subsequent realization of Bose-Einstein condensates in ultracold gases have opened a new window into the study of superfluidity and its relation to Bose-Einstein condensation. In our atomic sodium BEC experiment, we studied superfluidity and dissipationless flow in an all-optical toroidal trap, constructed using the combination of a horizontal "sheet"-like beam and vertical "ring"-like beam, which, like a circuit loop, allows flow around the ring. On inducing a single quantum of circulation in the condensate, the smoothness and uniformity of the toroidal BEC enabled the sustaining of a persistent current lasting 40 seconds, limited by the lifetime of the BEC due to background gas pressure. This success set the stage for further experiments studying superfluidity. In a first set of experiments, we studied the stability of the persistent current by inserting a barrier in the flow path of the ring. The superflow stopped abruptly at a barrier strength such that the local flow velocity at the barrier exceeded a critical velocity, which supported decay via the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair. Our precise control in inducing and arresting superflow in the BEC is a first step toward studying other aspects of superfluidity, such as the effect of temperature and dimensionality. This thesis discusses these experiments and also details partial-transfer absorption imaging, an
Higgs mode in a two-dimensional superfluid.
Pollet, L; Prokof'ev, N
We present solid evidence for the existence of a well-defined Higgs amplitude mode in two-dimensional relativistic field theories based on analytically continued results from quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the Bose-Hubbard model in the vicinity of the superfluid-Mott insulator quantum critical point, featuring emergent particle-hole symmetry and Lorentz invariance. The Higgs boson, seen as a well-defined low-frequency resonance in the spectral density, is quickly pushed to high energies in the superfluid phase and disappears by merging with the broad secondary peak at the characteristic interaction scale. Simulations of a trapped system of ultracold (87)Rb atoms demonstrate that the low-frequency resonance is lost for typical experimental parameters, while the characteristic frequency for the onset of a strong response is preserved.
Strongly interacting isotopic Bose-Fermi mixture immersed in a Fermi sea
Wu, Cheng-Hsun; Santiago, Ibon; Park, Jee Woo; Ahmadi, Peyman; Zwierlein, Martin W.
We have created a triply quantum-degenerate mixture of bosonic {sup 41}K and two fermionic species {sup 40}K and {sup 6}Li. The boson is shown to be an efficient coolant for the two fermions, spurring hopes for the observation of fermionic superfluids with imbalanced masses. We observe multiple heteronuclear Feshbach resonances, in particular a wide s-wave resonance for the combination {sup 41}K-{sup 40}K, opening up studies of strongly interacting isotopic Bose-Fermi mixtures. For large imbalance in the local densities of different species, we enter the polaronic regime of dressed impurities immersed in a bosonic or fermionic bath.
Twisted complex superfluids in optical lattices
Jürgensen, Ole; Sengstock, Klaus; Lühmann, Dirk-Sören
We show that correlated pair tunneling drives a phase transition to a twisted superfluid with a complex order parameter. This unconventional superfluid phase spontaneously breaks the time-reversal symmetry and is characterized by a twisting of the complex phase angle between adjacent lattice sites. We discuss the entire phase diagram of the extended Bose—Hubbard model for a honeycomb optical lattice showing a multitude of quantum phases including twisted superfluids, pair superfluids, supersolids and twisted supersolids. Furthermore, we show that the nearest-neighbor interactions lead to a spontaneous breaking of the inversion symmetry of the lattice and give rise to dimerized density-wave insulators, where particles are delocalized on dimers. For two components, we find twisted superfluid phases with strong correlations between the species already for surprisingly small pair-tunneling amplitudes. Interestingly, this ground state shows an infinite degeneracy ranging continuously from a supersolid to a twisted superfluid. PMID:26345721
Twisted complex superfluids in optical lattices.
Jürgensen, Ole; Sengstock, Klaus; Lühmann, Dirk-Sören
We show that correlated pair tunneling drives a phase transition to a twisted superfluid with a complex order parameter. This unconventional superfluid phase spontaneously breaks the time-reversal symmetry and is characterized by a twisting of the complex phase angle between adjacent lattice sites. We discuss the entire phase diagram of the extended Bose-Hubbard model for a honeycomb optical lattice showing a multitude of quantum phases including twisted superfluids, pair superfluids, supersolids and twisted supersolids. Furthermore, we show that the nearest-neighbor interactions lead to a spontaneous breaking of the inversion symmetry of the lattice and give rise to dimerized density-wave insulators, where particles are delocalized on dimers. For two components, we find twisted superfluid phases with strong correlations between the species already for surprisingly small pair-tunneling amplitudes. Interestingly, this ground state shows an infinite degeneracy ranging continuously from a supersolid to a twisted superfluid.
Superfluid vortices in dense quark matter
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mallavarapu, S. Kumar; Alford, Mark; Windisch, Andreas; Vachaspati, Tanmay
Superfluid vortices in the color-flavor-locked (CFL) phase of dense quark matter are known to be energetically disfavored as compared to well-separated triplets of ``semi-superfluid'' color flux tubes. In this talk we will provide results which will identify regions in parameter space where the superfluid vortex spontaneously decays. We will also discuss the nature of the mode that is responsible for the decay of a superfluid vortex in dense quark matter. We will conclude by mentioning the implications of our results to neutron stars.
The role of multiparticle correlations and Cooper pairing in the formation of molecules in an ultracold gas of Fermi atoms with a negative scattering length
Babichenko, V. S. Kagan, Yu.
The influence of multiparticle correlation effects and Cooper pairing in an ultracold Fermi gas with a negative scattering length on the formation rate of molecules is investigated. Cooper pairing is shown to cause the formation rate of molecules to increase, as distinct from the influence of Bose-Einstein condensation in a Bose gas on this rate. This trend is retained in the entire range of temperatures below the critical one.
Field theory in superfluid 3He: what are the lessons for particle physics, gravity, and high-temperature superconductivity?
Volovik, G E
There are several classes of homogeneous Fermi systems that are characterized by the topology of the energy spectrum of fermionic quasiparticles: (i) gapless systems with a Fermi surface, (ii) systems with a gap in their spectrum, (iii) gapless systems with topologically stable point nodes (Fermi points), and (iv) gapless systems with topologically unstable lines of nodes (Fermi lines). Superfluid 3He-A and electroweak vacuum belong to the universality class 3. The fermionic quasiparticles (particles) in this class are chiral: they are left-handed or right-handed. The collective bosonic modes of systems of class 3 are the effective gauge and gravitational fields. The great advantage of superfluid 3He-A is that we can perform experiments by using this condensed matter and thereby simulate many phenomena in high energy physics, including axial anomaly, baryoproduction, and magnetogenesis. 3He-A textures induce a nontrivial effective metrics of the space, where the free quasiparticles move along geodesics. With 3He-A one can simulate event horizons, Hawking radiation, rotating vacuum, etc. High-temperature superconductors are believed to belong to class 4. They have gapless fermionic quasiparticles with a "relativistic" spectrum close to gap nodes, which allows application of ideas developed for superfluid 3He-A.
Superfluid Helium Tanker (SFHT) study
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Eberhardt, Ralph N.; Dominick, Sam M.; Anderson, John E.; Gille, John P.; Martin, Tim A.; Marino, John S.; Paynter, Howard L.; Traill, R. Eric; Herzl, Alfred; Gotlib, Sam
Replenishment of superfluid helium (SFHe) offers the potential of extending the on-orbit life of observatories, satellite instruments, sensors and laboratories which operate in the 2 K temperature regime. A reference set of resupply customers was identified as representing realistic helium servicing requirements and interfaces for the first 10 years of superfluid helium tanker (SFHT) operations. These included the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF), the Particle Astrophysics Magnet Facility (Astromag), and the Microgravity and Materials Processing Sciences Facility (MMPS)/Critical Point Phenomena Facility (CPPF). A mixed-fleet approach to SFHT utilization was considered. The tanker permits servicing from the Shuttle cargo bay, in situ when attached to the OMV and carried to the user spacecraft, and as a depot at the Space Station. A SFHT Dewar ground servicing concept was developed which uses a dedicated ground cooling heat exchanger to convert all the liquid, after initial fill as normal fluid, to superfluid for launch. This concept permits the tanker to be filled to a near full condition, and then cooled without any loss of fluid. The final load condition can be saturated superfluid with any desired ullage volume, or the tank can be totally filed and pressurized. The SFHT Dewar and helium plumbing system design has sufficient component redundancy to meet fail-operational, fail-safe requirements, and is designed structurally to meet a 50 mission life usage requirement. Technology development recommendations were made for the selected SFHT concept, and a Program Plan and cost estimate prepared for a phase C/D program spanning 72 months from initiation through first launch in 1997.
Quantum coherent phenomena in superconducting circuits and ultracold atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mitra, Kaushik
. This includes the finite temperature order parameter equation for the superfluid phase, excitation spectrum, Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature and vortex-antivortex pair formation (in the two dimensional case), finite temperature compressibility and density - density correlation function. I also study interacting mixtures of ultracold bosonic and fermionic atoms in harmonically confined optical lattices. For a suitable choice of parameters I find emergence of superfluid and Fermi liquid (non-insulating) regions out of Bose-Mott and Fermi-band insulators, due to finite boson and fermion hopping. I also propose a possible experiment for the detection of superfluid and Fermi liquid shells through the use of Gauss-Laguerre and Gaussian beams followed by Bragg spectroscopy. Another area I explore is ultracold heteronuclear molecules such as KRb, RbCs and NaCs. I obtain the finite and zero-temperature phase diagram of bosons interacting via short range repulsive interactions and long-ranged isotropic dipolar interactions in two-dimensions. I build an analytical model for such systems that describes a first order quantum phase transition at zero temperature from a triangular crystalline phase (analogous to Wigner crystal phase of electrons) to superfluid phase. At finite temperature the crystalline phase melts, due to topological defects, to a hexatic phase where translational order is destroyed but hexagonal orientational order is preserved. Further temperature increase leads to the melting of the hexatic phase into a normal dipolar Bose liquid.
Connecting strongly correlated superfluids by a quantum point contact.
Husmann, Dominik; Uchino, Shun; Krinner, Sebastian; Lebrat, Martin; Giamarchi, Thierry; Esslinger, Tilman; Brantut, Jean-Philippe
Point contacts provide simple connections between macroscopic particle reservoirs. In electric circuits, strong links between metals, semiconductors, or superconductors have applications for fundamental condensed-matter physics as well as quantum information processing. However, for complex, strongly correlated materials, links have been largely restricted to weak tunnel junctions. We studied resonantly interacting Fermi gases connected by a tunable, ballistic quantum point contact, finding a nonlinear current-bias relation. At low temperature, our observations agree quantitatively with a theoretical model in which the current originates from multiple Andreev reflections. In a wide contact geometry, the competition between superfluidity and thermally activated transport leads to a conductance minimum. Our system offers a controllable platform for the study of mesoscopic devices based on strongly interacting matter.
A superconductor to superfluid phase transition in liquid metallic hydrogen.
Babaev, Egor; Sudbø, Asle; Ashcroft, N W
Although hydrogen is the simplest of atoms, it does not form the simplest of solids or liquids. Quantum effects in these phases are considerable (a consequence of the light proton mass) and they have a demonstrable and often puzzling influence on many physical properties, including spatial order. To date, the structure of dense hydrogen remains experimentally elusive. Recent studies of the melting curve of hydrogen indicate that at high (but experimentally accessible) pressures, compressed hydrogen will adopt a liquid state, even at low temperatures. In reaching this phase, hydrogen is also projected to pass through an insulator-to-metal transition. This raises the possibility of new state of matter: a near ground-state liquid metal, and its ordered states in the quantum domain. Ordered quantum fluids are traditionally categorized as superconductors or superfluids; these respective systems feature dissipationless electrical currents or mass flow. Here we report a topological analysis of the projected phase of liquid metallic hydrogen, finding that it may represent a new type of ordered quantum fluid. Specifically, we show that liquid metallic hydrogen cannot be categorized exclusively as a superconductor or superfluid. We predict that, in the presence of a magnetic field, liquid metallic hydrogen will exhibit several phase transitions to ordered states, ranging from superconductors to superfluids.
Fermi's Conundrum: Proliferation and Closed Societies
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Teller, Wendy; Westfall, Catherine
On January 1, 1946 Emily Taft Douglas, a freshman Representative at Large for Illinois, sent a letter to Enrico Fermi. She wanted to know whether, if atomic energy was used for peaceful purposes, it might be possible to clandestinely divert some material for bombs. Douglas first learned about the bomb not quite five months before when Hiroshima was bombed. Even though she was not a scientist she identified a key problem of the nuclear age. Fermi responded with requirements to allow peaceful uses of atomic energy and still outlaw nuclear weapons. First, free interchange of information between people was required, and second, people who reported possible violations had to be protected. Fermi had lived in Mussolini's Italy and worked under the war time secrecy restrictions of the Manhattan Project. He was not optimistic that these conditions could be met. This paper discusses how Douglas came to recognize the proliferation issue and what led Fermi to his solution and his pessimism about its practicality.
Resource Letter SH-1: Superfluid Helium.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Hallock, Robert B.
Provides an annotated list of books, textbooks, and films on superfluid helium. Also lists research reports/reviews arranged by category, including among others, early history, microscopic understanding, ions in helium, helium in rotation, vortices and quantization, helium films and constricted geometrics, persistence flow, and superfluid helium…
Berkeley Experiments on Superfluid Macroscopic Quantum Effects
Packard, Richard
This paper provides a brief history of the evolution of the Berkeley experiments on macroscopic quantum effects in superfluid helium. The narrative follows the evolution of the experiments proceeding from the detection of single vortex lines to vortex photography to quantized circulation in 3He to Josephson effects and superfluid gyroscopes in both 4He and 3He.
Mixtures of bosonic and fermionic atoms in optical lattices
Albus, Alexander; Illuminati, Fabrizio; Eisert, Jens
We discuss the theory of mixtures of bosonic and fermionic atoms in periodic potentials at zero temperature. We derive a general Bose-Fermi Hubbard Hamiltonian in a one-dimensional optical lattice with a superimposed harmonic trapping potential. We study the conditions for linear stability of the mixture and derive a mean-field criterion for the onset of a bosonic superfluid transition. We investigate the ground-state properties of the mixture in the Gutzwiller formulation of mean-field theory, and present numerical studies of finite systems. The bosonic and fermionic density distributions and the onset of quantum phase transitions to demixing and to a bosonic Mott-insulator are studied as a function of the lattice potential strength. The existence is predicted of a disordered phase for mixtures loaded in very deep lattices. Such a disordered phase possessing many degenerate or quasidegenerate ground states is related to a breaking of the mirror symmetry in the lattice.
Dark matter superfluidity and galactic dynamics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Berezhiani, Lasha; Khoury, Justin
We propose a unified framework that reconciles the stunning success of MOND on galactic scales with the triumph of the ΛCDM model on cosmological scales. This is achieved through the physics of superfluidity. Dark matter consists of self-interacting axion-like particles that thermalize and condense to form a superfluid in galaxies, with ∼mK critical temperature. The superfluid phonons mediate a MOND acceleration on baryonic matter. Our framework naturally distinguishes between galaxies (where MOND is successful) and galaxy clusters (where MOND is not): dark matter has a higher temperature in clusters, and hence is in a mixture of superfluid and normal phase. The rich and well-studied physics of superfluidity leads to a number of striking observational signatures.
Quasinormal modes of superfluid neutron stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gualtieri, L.; Kantor, E. M.; Gusakov, M. E.; Chugunov, A. I.
We study nonradial oscillations of neutron stars with superfluid baryons, in a general relativistic framework, including finite temperature effects. Using a perturbative approach, we derive the equations describing stellar oscillations, which we solve by numerical integration, employing different models of nucleon superfluidity, and determining frequencies and gravitational damping times of the quasinormal modes. As expected by previous results, we find two classes of modes, associated to superfluid and non-superfluid degrees of freedom, respectively. We study the temperature dependence of the modes, finding that at specific values of the temperature, the frequencies of the two classes of quasinormal modes show avoided crossings, and their damping times become comparable. We also show that, when the temperature is not close to the avoided crossings, the frequencies of the modes can be accurately computed by neglecting the coupling between normal and superfluid degrees of freedom. Our results have potential implications on the gravitational wave emission from neutron stars.
Three Dimensional Particle Tracking in Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Megson, Peter
Superfluid helium is a macroscopic quantum state which exhibits exotic physical properties, such as flow without friction and ballistic heat transport. Superfluid flow is irrotational except about line-like topological phase defects with quantized circulation, known as quatized vortices. The presence of these vortices and their dynamics is the dominating factor of turbulence in superfluid flows. One commonly studied regime of superfluid turbulence is thermal counterflow, where a local heat flux drives the formation and growth of a tangle of vortices. This talk will present experimental studies of counterflow turbulence performed using a multi-camera three-dimensional imaging apparatus with micron-sized ice tracer particles as well as fluorescent nanoparticles. In particular, we will discuss the measurement of three-dimensional velocties and their autocorrelations. Additionally, we are developing new techniques for optical studies of bulk superfluid helium, with particular focus on characterizing tracer particles and particle dispersal mechanisms. Funding from NSF DMR-1407472.
Two-fluid hydrodynamics in strongly interacting Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Taylor, Edward
Landau's theory of two-fluid hydrodynamics provides an exact description of the finite-temperature, low-energy dynamics of all strongly interacting superfluids described by a two-component order parameter. Reliable solutions of the two-fluid equations in trapped Fermi gases through the BCS-BEC crossover are crucial for extracting information about the equation of state and transport coefficients from experiments in the superfluid phase. In this talk, I will present new accurate variational solutions for the first and second sound frequencies in a trapped Fermi gas at unitarity, highlighting similarities with superfluid Helium-4 as well as some surprising differences [1.]. I will also discuss proposals to detect these modes in experiments. For the uniform gas, we show that at temperatures of order 0.7Tc and higher, second sound enters with comparable weight to first sound in the dynamic structure factor, in agreement with the recent results of Arahata and Nikuni on the propagation of density pulses [2.].[1.] E. Taylor, H. Hu, X.-J. Liu, L. P. Pitaevskii, A. Griffin, and S. Stringari, Phys. Rev. A 80, 053601 (2009).[2.] E. Arahata and T. Nikuni, Phys. Rev. A 80, 043613 (2009).
Dicke superradiance as nondestructive probe for the state of atoms in optical lattices
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Brinke, Nicolai ten; Schützhold, Ralf
We present a proposal for a probing scheme utilizing Dicke superradiance to obtain information about ultracold atoms in optical lattices. A probe photon is absorbed collectively by an ensemble of lattice atoms generating a Dicke state. The lattice dynamics (e.g., tunneling) affects the coherence properties of that Dicke state and thus alters the superradiant emission characteristics - which in turn provides insight into the lattice (dynamics). Comparing the Bose-Hubbard and the Fermi-Hubbard model, we find similar superradiance in the strongly interacting Mott insulator regime, but crucial differences in the weakly interacting (superfluid or metallic) phase. Furthermore, we study the possibility to detect whether a quantum phase transition between the two regimes can be considered adiabatic or a quantum quench.
Computational model of solid-state, molecular, or atomic media for FDTD simulation based on a multi-level multi-electron system governed by Pauli exclusion and Fermi-Dirac thermalization with application to semiconductor photonics.
Huang, Yingyan; Ho, Seng-Tiong
We report a general computational model of complex material media for electrodynamics simulation using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. It is based on a multi-level multi-electron quantum system with electron dynamics governed by Pauli Exclusion Principle, state filling, and dynamical Fermi-Dirac Thermalization, enabling it to treat various solid-state, molecular, or atomic media. The formulation is valid at near or far off resonance as well as at high intensity. We show its FDTD application to a semiconductor in which the carriers' intraband and interband dynamics, energy band filling, and thermal processes were all incorporated for the first time. The FDTD model is sufficiently complex and yet computationally efficient, enabling it to simulate nanophotonic devices with complex electromagnetic structures requiring simultaneous solution of the mediumfield dynamics in space and time. Applications to direct-gap semiconductors, ultrafast optical phenomena, and multimode microdisk lasers are illustrated.
Superfluid Helium Tanker (SFHT) study
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
The accomplishments and recommendations of the two-phase Superfluid Helium Tanker (SFHT) study are presented. During the first phase of the study, the emphasis was on defining a comprehensive set of user requirements, establishing SFHT interface parameters and design requirements, and selecting a fluid subsystem design concept. During the second phase, an overall system design concept was constructed based on appropriate analyses and more detailed definition of requirements. Modifications needed to extend the baseline for use with cryogens other than SFHT have been determined, and technology development needs related to the recommended design have been assessed.
Substrate Effects in Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Steel, Stephen Chris
The self emptying beaker technique was used to study the superfluid properties of ^3He confined in the van der Waals film adsorbed on the surface of a metal beaker. The experimental cell was designed to minimize thermal gradients along the ^3 He film. In contrast to the results of an earlier experiment by Sachrajda et al, which suggested that film flow occurred at temperatures as high as 3.5 mK (SACH-85), no flow was observed above the bulk transition temperature T_sp{rm c}{rm B} = 0.93 mK. The transition temperatures measured using round rim beakers agreed with theory, giving the predicted normal-superfluid phase boundary 2 delta/xi(T) = pi, where delta is the film thickness and xi(T) is the temperature dependent coherence length. The ^3He film thickness was inferred from Atkins' oscillation measurements of ^4He films on the same substrate. When a ^4He monolayer was adsorbed on the surface of a copper beaker, it suppressed the diffuse scattering of ^3He quasiparticles at the copper wall, an effect first observed by Freeman et al using a mylar substrate (FRMN-88). With the ^4He monolayer in place, there was no measurable suppression of the transition temperature, even for films as thin as 100 nm. This suggests that the ^3 He quasiparticle scattering at the free liquid surface as well as the ^4He covered substrate was specular. This is the first evidence of the nature of the scattering at the free surface. After the ^3He level in the beaker had dropped between 15 and 85 mu m, the flow rate abruptly dropped by a factor to ten or more. This may be associated with the transition between the superfluid B-phase, expected in thick films, and the superfluid A-phase, expected in thin films. The observed critical currents are roughly an order of magnitude smaller than predicted by the pair breaking limit, suggesting some other dissipation mechanism is responsible for limiting the current.
Superconductivity in an electron band just above the Fermi level: possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.
Okazaki, K; Ito, Y; Ota, Y; Kotani, Y; Shimojima, T; Kiss, T; Watanabe, S; Chen, C-T; Niitaka, S; Hanaguri, T; Takagi, H; Chainani, A; Shin, S
Conventional superconductivity follows Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer(BCS) theory of electrons-pairing in momentum-space, while superfluidity is the Bose-Einstein condensation(BEC) of atoms paired in real-space. These properties of solid metals and ultra-cold gases, respectively, are connected by the BCS-BEC crossover. Here we investigate the band dispersions in FeTe(0.6)Se(0.4)(Tc = 14.5 K ~ 1.2 meV) in an accessible range below and above the Fermi level(EF) using ultra-high resolution laser angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We uncover an electron band lying just 0.7 meV (~8 K) above EF at the Γ-point, which shows a sharp superconducting coherence peak with gap formation below Tc. The estimated superconducting gap Δ and Fermi energy [Symbol: see text]F indicate composite superconductivity in an iron-based superconductor, consisting of strong-coupling BEC in the electron band and weak-coupling BCS-like superconductivity in the hole band. The study identifies the possible route to BCS-BEC superconductivity.
This animation illustrates how analysis of Fermi data reveals new pulsars. Fermi's LAT records the precise arrival time and approximate direction of the gamma rays it detects, but to identify a pul...
Superfluid helium testing of a stainless steel to titanium piping transition joint
Soyars, W.; Basti, A.; Bedeschi, F.; Budagov, J.; Foley, M.; Harms, E.; Klebaner, A.; Nagaitsev, S.; Sabirov, B.; Dubna, JINR
Stainless steel-to-titanium bimetallic transitions have been fabricated with an explosively bonded joint. This novel joining technique was conducted by the Russian Federal Nuclear Center, working under contract for the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. These bimetallic transitions are being considered for use in future superconducting radio-frequency cavity cryomodule assemblies. This application requires cryogenic testing to demonstrate that this transition joint remains leak-tight when sealing superfluid helium. To simulate a titanium cavity vessel connection to a stainless steel service pipe, bimetallic transition joints were paired together to fabricate piping assemblies. These piping assemblies were then tested in superfluid helium conditions at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory test facilities. The transition joint test program will be described. Fabrication experience and test results will be presented.
Chladni Solitons and the Onset of the Snaking Instability for Dark Solitons in Confined Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Muñoz Mateo, A.; Brand, J.
Complex solitary waves composed of intersecting vortex lines are predicted in a channeled superfluid. Their shapes in a cylindrical trap include a cross, spoke wheels, and Greek Φ , and trace the nodal lines of unstable vibration modes of a planar dark soliton in analogy to Chladni's figures of membrane vibrations. The stationary solitary waves extend a family of solutions that include the previously known solitonic vortex and vortex rings. Their bifurcation points from the dark soliton indicating the onset of new unstable modes of the snaking instability are predicted from scale separation for Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and superfluid Fermi gases across the BEC-BCS crossover, and confirmed by full numerical calculations. Chladni solitons could be observed in ultracold gas experiments by seeded decay of dark solitons.
Formation of Au and tetrapyridyl porphyrin complexes in superfluid helium.
Feng, Cheng; Latimer, Elspeth; Spence, Daniel; Al Hindawi, Aula M A A; Bullen, Shem; Boatwright, Adrian; Ellis, Andrew M; Yang, Shengfu
Binary clusters containing a large organic molecule and metal atoms have been formed by the co-addition of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin (H2TPyP) molecules and gold atoms to superfluid helium nanodroplets, and the resulting complexes were then investigated by electron impact mass spectrometry. In addition to the parent ion H2TPyP yields fragments mainly from pyrrole, pyridine and methylpyridine ions because of the stability of their ring structures. When Au is co-added to the droplets the mass spectra are dominated by H2TPyP fragment ions with one or more Au atoms attached. We also show that by switching the order in which Au and H2TPyP are added to the helium droplets, different types of H2TPyP-Au complexes are clearly evident from the mass spectra. This study suggests a new route for the control over the growth of metal-organic compounds inside superfluid helium nanodroplets.
Many-body physics using cold atoms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sundar, Bhuvanesh
Advances in experiments on dilute ultracold atomic gases have given us access to highly tunable quantum systems. In particular, there have been substantial improvements in achieving different kinds of interaction between atoms. As a result, utracold atomic gases oer an ideal platform to simulate many-body phenomena in condensed matter physics, and engineer other novel phenomena that are a result of the exotic interactions produced between atoms. In this dissertation, I present a series of studies that explore the physics of dilute ultracold atomic gases in different settings. In each setting, I explore a different form of the inter-particle interaction. Motivated by experiments which induce artificial spin-orbit coupling for cold fermions, I explore this system in my first project. In this project, I propose a method to perform universal quantum computation using the excitations of interacting spin-orbit coupled fermions, in which effective p-wave interactions lead to the formation of a topological superfluid. Motivated by experiments which explore the physics of exotic interactions between atoms trapped inside optical cavities, I explore this system in a second project. I calculate the phase diagram of lattice bosons trapped in an optical cavity, where the cavity modes mediates effective global range checkerboard interactions between the atoms. I compare this phase diagram with one that was recently measured experimentally. In two other projects, I explore quantum simulation of condensed matter phenomena due to spin-dependent interactions between particles. I propose a method to produce tunable spin-dependent interactions between atoms, using an optical Feshbach resonance. In one project, I use these spin-dependent interactions in an ultracold Bose-Fermi system, and propose a method to produce the Kondo model. I propose an experiment to directly observe the Kondo effect in this system. In another project, I propose using lattice bosons with a large hyperfine spin
Breathers on quantized superfluid vortices.
Salman, Hayder
We consider the propagation of breathers along a quantized superfluid vortex. Using the correspondence between the local induction approximation (LIA) and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, we identify a set of initial conditions corresponding to breather solutions of vortex motion governed by the LIA. These initial conditions, which give rise to a long-wavelength modulational instability, result in the emergence of large amplitude perturbations that are localized in both space and time. The emergent structures on the vortex filament are analogous to loop solitons but arise from the dual action of bending and twisting of the vortex. Although the breather solutions we study are exact solutions of the LIA equations, we demonstrate through full numerical simulations that their key emergent attributes carry over to vortex dynamics governed by the Biot-Savart law and to quantized vortices described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The breather excitations can lead to self-reconnections, a mechanism that can play an important role within the crossover range of scales in superfluid turbulence. Moreover, the observation of breather solutions on vortices in a field model suggests that these solutions are expected to arise in a wide range of other physical contexts from classical vortices to cosmological strings.
Breathers on Quantized Superfluid Vortices
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salman, Hayder
We consider the propagation of breathers along a quantized superfluid vortex. Using the correspondence between the local induction approximation (LIA) and the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, we identify a set of initial conditions corresponding to breather solutions of vortex motion governed by the LIA. These initial conditions, which give rise to a long-wavelength modulational instability, result in the emergence of large amplitude perturbations that are localized in both space and time. The emergent structures on the vortex filament are analogous to loop solitons but arise from the dual action of bending and twisting of the vortex. Although the breather solutions we study are exact solutions of the LIA equations, we demonstrate through full numerical simulations that their key emergent attributes carry over to vortex dynamics governed by the Biot-Savart law and to quantized vortices described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The breather excitations can lead to self-reconnections, a mechanism that can play an important role within the crossover range of scales in superfluid turbulence. Moreover, the observation of breather solutions on vortices in a field model suggests that these solutions are expected to arise in a wide range of other physical contexts from classical vortices to cosmological strings.
Temperature dependence of the universal contact parameter in a unitary Fermi gas.
Kuhnle, E D; Hoinka, S; Dyke, P; Hu, H; Hannaford, P; Vale, C J
The contact I, introduced by Tan, has emerged as a key parameter characterizing universal properties of strongly interacting Fermi gases. For ultracold Fermi gases near a Feshbach resonance, the contact depends upon two quantities: the interaction parameter 1/(k(F)a), where k(F) is the Fermi wave vector and a is the s-wave scattering length, and the temperature T/T(F), where T(F) is the Fermi temperature. We present the first measurements of the temperature dependence of the contact in a unitary Fermi gas using Bragg spectroscopy. The contact is seen to follow the predicted decay with temperature and shows how pair-correlations at high momentum persist well above the superfluid transition temperature.
Finite-temperature behavior of an interspecies fermionic superfluid with population imbalance
Guo Hao; Chien, C.-C.; He Yan; Levin, K.; Chen Qijin
We determine the superfluid transition temperature T{sub c} and related finite temperature phase diagrams for the entire BCS-Bose-Einstein-condensation crossover in a three-dimensional homogeneous mixture of {sup 6}Li and {sup 40}K atoms with population imbalance. Our work is motivated by the recent observation of an interspecies Feshbach resonance. Pairing fluctuation effects, which significantly reduce T{sub c} from the onset temperature for pairing (T*), provide reasonable estimates of T{sub c} and indicate that the interspecies superfluid phase should be accessible in future experiments. Although a homogeneous polarized superfluid is not stable in the ground state near unitarity, our phase diagrams show that it stabilizes at finite temperature.
Magnetic and Superfluid Transitions in the One-Dimensional Spin-1 Boson Hubbard Model
Batrouni, G. G.; Rousseau, V. G.; Scalettar, R. T.
Recent progress in experiments on trapped ultracold atoms has made it possible to study the interplay between magnetism and superfluid-insulator transitions in the boson Hubbard model. We report on quantum Monte Carlo simulations of the spin-1 boson Hubbard model in the ground state. For antiferromagnetic interactions favoring singlets, we present exact numerical evidence that the superfluid-insulator transition is first (second) order for even (odd) Mott lobes. Inside even lobes, we search for nematic-to-singlet first order transitions. In the ferromagnetic case where transitions are all continuous, we map the phase diagram and show the superfluid to be ferromagnetic. We compare the quantum Monte Carlo phase diagram with a third order perturbation calculation.
Superfluidity of Bose-Einstein condensates in toroidal traps with nonlinear lattices
Yulin, A. V.; Konotop, V. V.; Bludov, Yu. V.; Kuzmiak, V.; Salerno, M.
Superfluid properties of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) in toroidal quasi-one-dimensional traps are investigated in the presence of periodic scattering length modulations along the ring. The existence of several types of stable periodic waves, ranging from almost uniform to very fragmented chains of weakly interacting and equally spaced solitons, is demonstrated. We show that these waves may support persistent atomic currents and sound waves with spectra of Bogoliubov type. Fragmented condensates can be viewed as arrays of Josephson junctions and the current as a BEC manifestation of the dc-Josephson effect. The influence of linear defects on BEC superfluidity has been also investigated. We found that for subcritical velocities, linear defects that are static with respect to the lattice (while the condensate moves in respect to both the optical lattice and the defect) preserve the BEC superfluidity.
Phase diagram of a one-dimensional spin-full Bose-Fermi mixture at large boson densities
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nocera, Alberto; Lutchyn, Roman M.; Feiguin, Adrian E.
We determine the ground state phase diagram of a one dimensional Bose-Fermi Hubbard model with spin-full fermions using the Density Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG) method. We focus on the regime with one fermion per site, and deep into the superfluid phase. We study the effects of the boson-fermion interaction on the fermionic pairing, as a function of the interaction strength, hopping, and bosonic density. We identify the regime in which fermionic superfluidity dominates, and a phase with coexisting CDW and bosonic superfluidity. At high boson densities we find a fermionic Wigner crystal coexisting with bosonic superfluidity. We analyze the structure of the Cooper pairs and the bosonic cloud that acts as the glue.
Large Chern-number topological superfluids in a coupled-layer system
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Huang, Beibing; Chan, Chun Fai; Gong, Ming
Large Chern-number topological phase is always an important topic in modern physics. Here we investigate the topological superfluids in a coupled-layer system, in which transitions between different topological superfluids can be realized by controlling the binding energy, interlayer tunneling, and layer asymmetry, etc. These topological transitions are characterized by energy gap closing and reopening at the critical points at zero momentum, where the Chern number and sign of Pfaffian undergo a discontinuous change. Topological protected edge modes at the boundaries are ensured by the bulk-edge correspondence. In a trapped potential the edge modes are spatially localized at the interfaces between distinct topological superfluids, where the number of edge modes is equal to the Chern-number difference between the left and right superfluids. These topological transitions can be detected by spin texture at or near zero momentum, which changes discretely across the critical points due to band inversion. The model can be generalized to a multilayer system in which the Chern number can be equal to any positive integer. These large Chern-number topological superfluids provide fertile grounds for exploring exotic quantum matters in the context of ultracold atoms.
Variational wavefunction for multi-species spinful fermionic superfluids and superconductors
Kastrinakis, George
We introduce a new fermionic variational wavefunction, generalizing the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) wavefunction, which is suitable for interacting multi-species spinful systems and sustaining superfluidity. Applications range from quark matter to the high temperature superconductors. A wide class of Hamiltonians, comprising interactions and hybridization of arbitrary momentum dependence between different fermion species, can be treated in a comprehensive manner. This is the case, as both the intra-species and the inter-species interactions are treated on equally rigorous footing, which is accomplished via the introduction of a new quantum index attached to the fermions. The index is consistent with known fermionic physics, and allows for heretofore unaccounted fermion–fermion correlations. We have derived the finite temperature version of the theory, thus obtaining the renormalized quasiparticle dispersion relations, and we discuss the appearance of charge and spin density wave order. We present numerical solutions for two electron species in 2 dimensions. Based on these solutions, we show that, for equivalent spin up and down fermions, the Fermi occupation factor (per spin) equals 1/2 deep in the Fermi sea. This constitutes a unique experimental prediction of the theory, both for the normal and superfluid states. Interestingly, this result, obtained in the thermodynamic limit, is consistent with Fermi occupation factor (in-)equalities for finite systems of electrons, derived (in a different context) by Borland and Dennis (1972) and by Altunbulak and Klyachko (2008)
Coupled Atom-Polar Molecule Condensate Systems: A Theoretical Adventure
chiral p-wave superfluid pairings by lowing the energy cost of the phonons the roton minimum in a quasi-2D dipolar Bose-Fermi mixture, and the Cherenkov...2010): 0. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.81.063641 Ben Kain, Hong Y. Ling. Roton-assisted chiral p-wave superfluid in a quasi-two-dimensional dipolar Bose...Quenched Bose Gas, PHYSICAL REVIEW A (03 2014) Ben Kain, Hong Y. Ling. The roton-assisted chiral p-wave superfluid in a quasi-two-dimensional
Statistics of Quantum Turbulence in Superfluid He
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
L'vov, V. S.; Pomyalov, A.
Based on our current understanding of statistics of quantum turbulence as well as on results of intensive ongoing analytical, numerical and experimental studies, we overview here the following problems in the large-scale, space-homogeneous, steady-state turbulence of superfluid ^4 He and ^3 He: (1) energy spectra of normal and superfluid velocity components; (2) cross-correlation function of normal and superfluid velocities; (3) energy dissipation by mutual friction and viscosity; (4) energy exchange between normal and superfluid components; (5) high-order statistics and intermittency effects. The statistical properties are discussed for turbulence in different types of flows: coflow of ^4 He; turbulent ^3 He with the laminar normal fluid; pure superflow and counterflow in ^4 He.
Superfluid helium II as the QCD vacuum
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhitnitsky, Ariel
We study the winding number susceptibility
Superfluid helium leak sealant study
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Vorreiter, J. W.
Twenty-one leak specimens were fabricated in the ends of stainless steel and aluminum tubes. Eighteen of these tubes were coated with a copolymer material to seal the leak. The other three specimens were left uncoated and served as control specimens. All 21 tubes were cold shocked in liquid helium 50 times and then the leak rate was measured while the tubes were submerged in superfluid helium at 1.7 K. During the cold shocks two of the coated specimens were mechanically damaged and eliminated from the test program. Of the remaining 16 coated specimens one suffered a total coating failure and resulting high leak rate. Another three of the coated specimens suffered partial coating failures. The leak rates of the uncoated specimens were also measured and reported. The significance of various leak rates is discussed in view of the infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) Dewar performance.
Electric response in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chagovets, Tymofiy V.
We report an experimental investigation of the electric response of superfluid helium that arises in the presence of a second sound standing wave. It was found that the signal of the electric response is observed in a narrow range of second sound excitation power. The linear dependence of the signal amplitude has been derived at low excitation power, however, above some critical power, the amplitude of the signal is considerably decreased. It was established that the rapid change of the electric response is not associated with a turbulent regime generated by the second sound wave. A model of the appearance of the electric response as a result of the oscillation of electron bubbles in the normal fluid velocity field in the second sound wave is presented. Possible explanation for the decrease of the electric response are presented.
Spin superfluidity and coherent spin precession
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bunkov, Yuriy M.
The spontaneous phase coherent precession of the magnetization in superfluid 3He-B was discovered experimentally in 1984 at the Institute for Physical Problems, Moscow by Borovik-Romanov, Bunkov, Dmitriev and Mukharsky and simultaneously explained theoretically by Fomin (Institut Landau, Moscow). Its formation is a direct manifestation of spin superfluidity. The latter is the magnetic counterpart of mass superfluidity and superconductivity. It is also an example of the Bose-Einstein condensation of spin-wave excitations (magnons). The coherent spin precession opened the way for investigations of spin supercurrent magnetization transport and other related phenomena, such as spin-current Josephson effect, process of phase slippage at a critical value of spin supercurrent, spin-current vortices, non-topological solitons (analogous to Q-balls in high energy physics) etc. New measuring techniques based on coherent spin precession made the investigation of mass counterflow and mass vortices possible owing to the spin-mass interaction. New phenomena were observed: mass-spin vortices, the Goldstone mode of the mass vortex with non-axisymmetric core, superfluid density anisotropy etc. Different types of coherent spin precession were later found in superfluid 3He-A and 3He-B confined in anisotropic aerogel, in the states with counterflow and in 3He with reduced magnetization. Finally, spin superfluidity investigations developed the basis for a modern investigation of electron spin supercurrent and spintronics.
Collisional Properties of a Polarized Fermi Gas with Resonant Interactions
Bruun, G. M.; Recati, A.; Stringari, S.; Pethick, C. J.; Smith, H.
Highly polarized mixtures of atomic Fermi gases constitute a novel Fermi liquid. We demonstrate how information on thermodynamic properties may be used to calculate quasiparticle scattering amplitudes even when the interaction is resonant and apply the results to evaluate the damping of the spin dipole mode. We estimate that under current experimental conditions the mode would be intermediate between the hydrodynamic and collisionless limits.
Frank Isakson Prize Talk: Superfluid and normal-fluid densities in the cuprate superconductors from infrared spectroscopy
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tanner, D. B.
Measurements for a number of cuprate families of optical reflectance over a wide spectral range (far-infrared to ultraviolet) have been analyzed using Kramers-Kronig analysis to obtain the optical conductivity σ (ω) and (by integration of the real part of the conductivity) the spectral weight of low- and mid-energy excitations. For the Kramers-Kronig analysis to give reliable results, accurate high-frequency extrapolations, based on x-ray atomic scattering functions, were used. When the optical conductivities of the normal and superconducting states are compared, a transfer of spectral weight from finite frequencies to the zero-frequency delta-function conductivity of the superconductor is seen. The strength of this delta function gives the superfluid density, ρs. In a clean metallic superconductor the superfluid density is essentially equal to the conduction electron density. The cuprates in contrast have only about 20% of the a b-plane low-energy spectral weight in the superfluid. The rest remains in finite-frequency, midinfrared absorption. In underdoped materials the superfluid fraction is even smaller. There are two ways to measure ρs, using either the partial sum rule for the conductivity or by examination of σ2 (ω) . Comparison of these two estimates of the superfluid density shows that 98% of the a b-plane superfluid density comes from energies below 0.15 eV. Many students, postdocs, and materials preparers have contributed to this work; to all I am very grateful.
Condensate fraction of a two-dimensional attractive Fermi gas
Salasnich, Luca
We investigate the Bose-Einstein condensation of fermionic pairs in a two-dimensional uniform two-component Fermi superfluid obtaining an explicit formula for the condensate density as a function of the chemical potential and the energy gap. By using the mean-field extended Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, we analyze, as a function of the bound-state energy, the off-diagonal long-range order in the crossover from the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state of weakly bound Cooper pairs to the Bose-Einstein condensate of strongly-bound molecular dimers.
Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Prize Lecture: Quantum Mechanics meets Fluid Dynamics: Visualization of Vortex Reconnection in Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Paoletti, Matthew
Long-range quantum order underlies a number of related physical phenomena including superfluidity, superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensation. While superfluidity in helium-4 was one of the earliest discovered, it is not the best understood, owing to the strong interactions present (making theoretical progress difficult) and the lack of local experimental probes. Quantum fluids, such as superfluid helium-4, are typically described as a mixture of two interpenetrating fluids with distinct velocity fields: a viscous normal fluid akin to water and an inviscid superfluid exhibiting long-range quantum order. In this "two-fluid model," there is no conventional viscous dissipation in the superfluid component and vorticity is confined to atomically-thin vortices with quantized circulation. Turbulence may occur in either fluid component with turbulence in the superfluid exhibiting a complex tangle of quantized vortices, as first envisioned by Feynman. Approximately five years ago, our group discovered that micron-sized hydrogen particles may be used for flow visualization in superfluid helium-4. The particles can trace the motions of the normal fluid or be trapped by the quantized vortices, which enables one to characterize the dynamics of both the normal fluid and superfluid components for the first time. By directly observing and tracking these particles, we have directly confirmed the two-fluid model, observed vortex rings and quantized vortex reconnection, characterized thermal counterflows, and observed the very peculiar nature of quantum turbulence. One of many surprising observations is the existence of power-law tails in the probability distribution of velocities in quantum turbulence, which are in stark contrast to the Gaussian distributions typical of classical fluid turbulence.
Superfluidity enhanced by spin-flip tunnelling in the presence of a magnetic field
Zheng, Jun-Hui; Wang, Daw-Wei; Juzeliūnas, Gediminas
It is well-known that when the magnetic field is stronger than a critical value, the spin imbalance can break the Cooper pairs of electrons and hence hinder the superconductivity in a spin-singlet channel. In a bilayer system of ultra-cold Fermi gases, however, we demonstrate that the critical value of the magnetic field at zero temperature can be significantly increased by including a spin-flip tunnelling, which opens a gap in the spin-triplet channel near the Fermi surface and hence reduces the influence of the effective magnetic field on the superfluidity. The phase transition also changes from first order to second order when the tunnelling exceeds a critical value. Considering a realistic experiment, this mechanism can be implemented by applying an intralayer Raman coupling between the spin states with a phase difference between the two layers. PMID:27633848
Superfluidity enhanced by spin-flip tunnelling in the presence of a magnetic field
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zheng, Jun-Hui; Wang, Daw-Wei; Juzeliūnas, Gediminas
It is well-known that when the magnetic field is stronger than a critical value, the spin imbalance can break the Cooper pairs of electrons and hence hinder the superconductivity in a spin-singlet channel. In a bilayer system of ultra-cold Fermi gases, however, we demonstrate that the critical value of the magnetic field at zero temperature can be significantly increased by including a spin-flip tunnelling, which opens a gap in the spin-triplet channel near the Fermi surface and hence reduces the influence of the effective magnetic field on the superfluidity. The phase transition also changes from first order to second order when the tunnelling exceeds a critical value. Considering a realistic experiment, this mechanism can be implemented by applying an intralayer Raman coupling between the spin states with a phase difference between the two layers.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking of Bose-Fermi mixtures in double-well potentials
Adhikari, S. K.; Malomed, B. A.; Salasnich, L.; Toigo, F.
We study the spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of a superfluid Bose-Fermi (BF) mixture in a double-well potential (DWP). The mixture is described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) for the bosons, coupled to an equation for the order parameter of the Fermi superfluid, which is derived from the respective density functional in the unitarity limit (a similar model applies to the BCS regime, too). Straightforward SSB in the degenerate Fermi gas loaded into a DWP is impossible, as it requires an attractive self-interaction, and the intrinsic nonlinearity in the Fermi gas is repulsive. Nonetheless, we demonstrate that the symmetry breaking is possible in the mixture with attraction between fermions and bosons, like {sup 40}K and {sup 87}Rb. Numerical results are represented by dependencies of asymmetry parameters for both components on particle numbers of the mixture, N{sub F} and N{sub B}, and by phase diagrams in the (N{sub F},N{sub B}) plane, which displays regions of symmetric and asymmetric ground states. The dynamical picture of the SSB, induced by a gradual transformation of the single-well potential into the DWP, is reported too. An analytical approximation is proposed for the case when the GPE for the boson wave function may be treated by means of the Thomas-Fermi (TF) approximation. Under a special linear relationship between N{sub F} and N{sub B}, the TF approximation allows us to reduce the model to a single equation for the fermionic function, which includes competing repulsive and attractive nonlinear terms. The latter one directly displays the mechanism of the generation of the effective attraction in the Fermi superfluid, mediated by the bosonic component of the mixture.
Superfluidity in the Core of Neutron Stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Page, Dany
The year (1958) after the publication of the BCS theory, Bohr, Mottelson & Pines showed that nuclei should also contain superfluid neutrons and superconducting protons. In 1959, A. Migdal proposed that neutron superfluidity should also occur in the interior of neutron stars. Pairing in nuclei forms Cooper pairs with zero spin, but the relevant component of the nuclear interaction becomes repulsive at densities larger than the nuclear matter density. It has been proposed that neutron-neutron interaction in the spin-triplet state, and L=1 orbital angular momentum, that is known to be attractive from laboratory experiments, may result in a new form of neutron superfluidity in the neutron star interior. I will review our present understanding of the structure of neutron stars and describe how superfluidity strongly affects their thermal evolution. I will show how a ``Minimal Model'' that excludes the presence of ``exotic'' matter (Bose condensates, quarks, etc.) is compatible with most observations of the surface temperatures of young isolated neutron stars in the case this neutron superfluid exists. Compared to the case of isotropic spin-zero Cooper pairs, the formation of anisotropic spin-one Cooper pairs results in a strong neutrino emission that leads to an enhanced cooling of neutron stars after the onset of the pairing phase transition and allows the Minimal Cooling scenario to be compatible with most observations. In the case the pairing critical temperature Tc is less than about 6 x10^8 K, the resulting rapid cooling of the neutron star may be observable. It was recently reported that 10 years of Chandra observations of the 333 year young neutron star in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant revealed that its temperature has dropped by about 5%. This result indicates that neutrons in this star are presently becoming superfluid and, if confirmed, provides us with the first direct observational evidence for neutron superfluidity at supra-nuclear densities.
75 FR 81316 - Detroit Edison Company; FERMI 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
... the Final Environmental Statement for the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2, NUREG-0769, dated... COMMISSION Detroit Edison Company; FERMI 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The... Edison Company (the licensee), for operation of Fermi 2, located in Monroe County, Michigan....
Stability of superfluid phases in the 2D spin-polarized attractive Hubbard model
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kujawa-Cichy, A.; Micnas, R.
We study the evolution from the weak coupling (BCS-like limit) to the strong coupling limit of tightly bound local pairs (LPs) with increasing attraction, in the presence of the Zeeman magnetic field (h) for d=2, within the spin-polarized attractive Hubbard model. The broken symmetry Hartree approximation as well as the strong coupling expansion are used. We also apply the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) scenario to determine the phase coherence temperatures. For spin-independent hopping integrals (t↑=t↓), we find no stable homogeneous polarized superfluid (SCM) state in the ground state for the strong attraction and obtain that for a two-component Fermi system on a 2D lattice with population imbalance, phase separation (PS) is favoured for a fixed particle concentration, even on the LP (BEC) side. We also examine the influence of spin-dependent hopping integrals (mass imbalance) on the stability of the SCM phase. We find a topological quantum phase transition (Lifshitz type) from the unpolarized superfluid phase (SC0) to SCM and tricritical points in the h-|U| and t↑/t↓-|U| ground-state phase diagrams. We also construct the finite temperature phase diagrams for both t↑=t↓ and t↑≠t↓ and analyze the possibility of occurrence of a spin-polarized KT superfluid.
Numerical models for stationary superfluid neutron stars in general relativity with realistic equations of state
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sourie, Aurélien; Oertel, Micaela; Novak, Jérôme
We present a numerical model for uniformly rotating superfluid neutron stars in a fully general relativistic framework with, for the first time, realistic microphysics including entrainment. We compute stationary and axisymmetric configurations of neutron stars composed of two fluids, namely superfluid neutrons and charged particles (protons and electrons), rotating with different rates around a common axis. Both fluids are coupled by entrainment, a nondissipative interaction which in the case of a nonvanishing relative velocity between the fluids causes the fluid momenta to be not aligned with the respective fluid velocities. We extend the formalism put forth by Comer and Joynt in order to calculate the equation of state (EOS) and entrainment parameters for an arbitrary relative velocity as far as superfluidity is maintained. The resulting entrainment matrix fulfills all necessary sum rules, and in the limit of small relative velocity our results agree with Fermi liquid theory ones derived to lowest order in the velocity. This formalism is applied to two new nuclear equations of state which are implemented in the numerical model, which enables us to obtain precise equilibrium configurations. The resulting density profiles and moments of inertia are discussed employing both EOSs, showing the impact of entrainment and the dependence on the EOS.
Fermi Liquid Instabilities in the Spin Channel
Wu, Congjun; Sun, Kai; Fradkin, Eduardo; Zhang, Shou-Cheng; /Stanford U., Phys. Dept.
We study the Fermi surface instabilities of the Pomeranchuk type in the spin triplet channel with high orbital partial waves (F{sub l}{sup a} (l > 0)). The ordered phases are classified into two classes, dubbed the {alpha} and {beta}-phases by analogy to the superfluid {sup 3}He-A and B-phases. The Fermi surfaces in the {alpha}-phases exhibit spontaneous anisotropic distortions, while those in the {beta}-phases remain circular or spherical with topologically non-trivial spin configurations in momentum space. In the {alpha}-phase, the Goldstone modes in the density channel exhibit anisotropic overdamping. The Goldstone modes in the spin channel have nearly isotropic underdamped dispersion relation at small propagating wavevectors. Due to the coupling to the Goldstone modes, the spin wave spectrum develops resonance peaks in both the {alpha} and {beta}-phases, which can be detected in inelastic neutron scattering experiments. In the p-wave channel {beta}-phase, a chiral ground state inhomogeneity is spontaneously generated due to a Lifshitz-like instability in the originally nonchiral systems. Possible experiments to detect these phases are discussed.
Spectral functions in ultracold Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Schneider, William; Randeria, Mohit
We study the fermion spectral function in the superfluid state across the BEC-BCS crossover and in the normal Fermi liquid phase in highly imbalanced Fermi gases. We focus on features that can be measured in momentum-resolved radio frequency spectroscopy experiments. We go beyond mean field theory and include the effects of Gaussian order parameter fluctuations in a manner that gives excellent agreement with asymptotically exact results for the T = 0 equation of state in the BEC and BCS limits, as well as quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) results near unitarity. We show that sharp Bogoliubov quasiparticles, with a substantial coherent spectral weight, exist near unitarity. We argue that this is true generally even beyond the Gaussian approximation. In addition, quasiparticle scattering and interaction with collective modes produces incoherent spectral weight. We show that the dispersion is strongly renormalized at unitarity with its minimum shifted up from its mean field value √{ 2 mμ } and compare our results with existing QMC data. We discuss how the spectral function changes qualitatively compared with its mean field form as 1 / (kF a) increases and the chemical potential changes sign. Supported by NSF-DMR 0706203 and ARO W911NF-08-1-0338.
Suppression of Density Fluctuations in a Quantum Degenerate Fermi Gas
Sanner, Christian; Su, Edward J.; Keshet, Aviv; Gommers, Ralf; Shin, Yong-il; Huang Wujie; Ketterle, Wolfgang
We study density profiles of an ideal Fermi gas and observe Pauli suppression of density fluctuations (atom shot noise) for cold clouds deep in the quantum degenerate regime. Strong suppression is observed for probe volumes containing more than 10 000 atoms. Measuring the level of suppression provides sensitive thermometry at low temperatures. After this method of sensitive noise measurements has been validated with an ideal Fermi gas, it can now be applied to characterize phase transitions in strongly correlated many-body systems.
Quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases at finite temperatures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fischer, Andrea M.; Parish, Meera M.
We consider a Fermi gas with short-range attractive interactions that is confined along one direction by a tight harmonic potential. For this quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) Fermi gas, we compute the pressure equation of state, radiofrequency spectrum, and the superfluid critical temperature Tc using a mean-field theory that accounts for all the energy levels of the harmonic confinement. Our calculation for Tc provides a natural generalization of the Thouless criterion to the quasi-2D geometry, and it correctly reduces to the 3D expression derived from the local density approximation in the limit where the confinement frequency ωz→0 . Furthermore, our results suggest that Tc can be enhanced by relaxing the confinement and perturbing away from the 2D limit.
Probing the Contact Locally in a Trapped Unitary Fermi Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Paudel, Rabin; Sagi, Yoav; Drake, Tara; Jin, Deborah
The inherent density inhomogeneity of a trapped gas can complicate interpretation of experiments and can wash out sharp features. This is especially important for a Fermi gas, where interaction effects as well as the local Fermi energy, or Fermi momentum, depend on the density. We report on experiments that use optical pumping with shaped light beams to spatially select the center part of a trapped gas for probing. This technique is compatible with momentum resolved measurements. For a weakly interacting Fermi gas of 40K atoms, we present measurements of the momentum distribution that reveal for the first time a sharp Fermi surface. We then apply this technique to a strongly interacting Fermi gas at the Feshbach resonance, where we measured the temperature dependence of the Tan's contact locally in the trapped gas.
Hydrodynamic Lagrangian of relativistic superfluids with crystalline structure
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Peletminskii, A. S.
We propose a relativistic Lagrangian formulation of macroscopic dynamics of superfluid systems. The constructed Lagrangian provides the description of ordinary superfluids and superfluids with a crystalline ordering, where both phase and translational symmetries are simultaneously broken (e.g., supersolids or crystalline superfluids in neutron stars). The covariant conservation laws and equations of motion for the field variables associated with the broken symmetries are obtained. The connection to Khalatnikov-Lebedev relativistic hydrodynamic theory is discussed.
Dynamical properties of superfluid turbulence
Lorenson, C.P.
Despite all the experimental work done in recent years to study superfluid turbulence, the understanding of the dynamical properties of this system is still poor. The author designed a new cryogenic probe to perform a series of experiments to study the dynamical response of the vortex line density in turbulent thermal counterflow. The apparatus uses a small glass flow tube to probe the fluctuations in the line density around the two turbulent states (TI, TII) present in this system. A chemical potential gradiometer is used that measures the chemical potential across the flow tube. This quantity is directly related to the vortex line density. The gradiometer also enabled both the steady state and the dynamical properties of the turbulence to be studied. These experiments have established the existence of fluctuations in the chemical potential in turbulent counterflow. For the first time fluctuations in the dissipation were observed in the TI/TII transition region. The fluctuations are characteristic of broad-band noise showing no evidence of fluctuations at preferred frequency. The TI/TII transition is characterized by a sharp increase in the noise power amplitude and its variation with heat current reveals a complex structure.
Microscopic molecular superfluid response: theory and simulations
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zeng, Tao; Roy, Pierre-Nicholas
Since its discovery in 1938, superfluidity has been the subject of much investigation because it provides a unique example of a macroscopic manifestation of quantum mechanics. About 60 years later, scientists successfully observed this phenomenon in the microscopic world though the spectroscopic Andronikashvili experiment in helium nano-droplets. This reduction of scale suggests that not only helium but also para-H2 (pH2) can be a candidate for superfluidity. This expectation is based on the fact that the smaller number of neighbours and surface effects of a finite-size cluster may hinder solidification and promote a liquid-like phase. The first prediction of superfluidity in pH2 clusters was reported in 1991 based on quantum Monte Carlo simulations. The possible superfluidity of pH2 was later indirectly observed in a spectroscopic Andronikashvili experiment in 2000. Since then, a growing number of studies have appeared, and theoretical simulations have been playing a special role because they help guide and interpret experiments. In this review, we go over the theoretical studies of pH2 superfluid clusters since the experiment of 2000. We provide a historical perspective and introduce the basic theoretical formalism along with key experimental advances. We then present illustrative results of the theoretical studies and comment on the possible future developments in the field. We include sufficient theoretical details such that the review can serve as a guide for newcomers to the field.
Viscosity and scale invariance in the unitary Fermi gas
Enss, Tilman; Haussmann, Rudolf; Zwerger, Wilhelm
We compute the shear viscosity of the unitary Fermi gas above the superfluid transition temperature, using a diagrammatic technique that starts from the exact Kubo formula. The formalism obeys a Ward identity associated with scale invariance which guarantees that the bulk viscosity vanishes identically. For the shear viscosity, vertex corrections and the associated Aslamazov-Larkin contributions are shown to be crucial to reproduce the full Boltzmann equation result in the high-temperature, low fugacity limit. The frequency dependent shear viscosity {eta}({omega}) exhibits a Drude-like transport peak and a power-law tail at large frequencies which is proportional to the Tan contact. The weight in the transport peak is given by the equilibrium pressure, in agreement with a sum rule due to Taylor and Randeria. Near the superfluid transition the peak width is of the order of 0.5T{sub F}, thus invalidating a quasiparticle description. The ratio {eta}/s between the static shear viscosity and the entropy density exhibits a minimum near the superfluid transition temperature whose value is larger than the string theory bound h/(4{pi}k{sub B}) by a factor of about seven.
Gravitational Effects on Collective Modes of Superfluid Shells
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Padavić, Karmela; Sun, Kuei; Lannert, Courtney; Vishveshwara, Smitha
We study the effects of gravity on collective excitations of shell-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). Superfluid shells are of general interest as examples of hollow geometries that can be produced in ultracold atoms in bubble-trap potentials or optical lattices. Our approach to analyzing superfluid shells is based on a Gross-Pitaevskii mean field theory and hydrodynamic equations derived from it. Considering a spherically symmetric BEC in general, there are distinct collective excitation spectra for the cases of a fully filled sphere and a very thin shell. Furthermore, an adiabatic change in the potential producing a slow transition from one geometry to the other shows a characteristic evolution. Given that in most realistic experimental conditions gravity cannot be neglected we investigate its effects on the equilibrium profile and the collective modes in the very thin shell limit. We analytically obtain the full excitation spectrum for the thin shell geometry and account for gravity perturbatively at length and energy scales that describe a stable matter-wave bubble. We find that gravity breaks spherical symmetry of the equilibrium density profile and affects the collective excitations by coupling adjacent modes in the angular direction.
Superfluid plasmas: Multivelocity nonlinear hydrodynamics of superfluid solutions with charged condensates coupled electromagnetically
Holm, D.D.; Kupershmidt, B.A.
Four levels of nonlinear hydrodynamic description are presented for a nondissipative multicondensate solution of superfluids with vorticity. First, the multivelocity superfluid (MVSF) theory is extended to the case of a multivelocity superfluid plasma (MVSP), in which some of the superfluid condensates (protons, say) are charged and coupled electromagnetically to an additional, normal, charged fluid (electrons). The resulting drag-current density is derived due to the electromagnetic coupling of the condensates with the normal fluids. For the case of one charged condensate, the MVSP equations simplify to what we call superfluid Hall magnetohydrodynamics (SHMHD) in the approximation that displacement current and electron inertia are negligible, and local charge neutrality is imposed. The contribution of the charged condensate to the Hall drift force is determined. In turn, neglecting the Hall effect in SHMHD gives the equations of superfluid magnetohydrodynamics (SMHD). Each set of equations (MVSF, MVSP, SHMHD, and SMHD) is shown to be Hamiltonian and to possess a Poisson bracket associated with the dual space of a corresponding semidirect-product Lie algebra with a generalized two-cocycle defined on it. Topological conservation laws (helicities) associated with the kernels of these Lie algebras are also discussed as well as those associated physically with generalized Kelvin theorems for conservation of superfluid circulation around closed loops moving with the normal fluid.
What Can Ultracold Fermi Gases Teach Us About High Tc Superconductors and Vice Versa?
Levin, Kathryn
Studies of superfluidity in ultracold trapped Fermi gases are attracting physicists from a wide range of sub-disciplines including nuclear, condensed matter and particle physics. The excitement in the field is due, in large part, to the remarkable tuneability of these Fermi gases. One can tune the attractive interaction strength continuously from weak to strong (thereby effecting a transition from a BCS to Bose Einstein condensed (BEC) superfluid). One can introduce polarization into the gases at will, which may lead to long-sought-after, but not yet confirmed, exotic superfluid phases. In this talk we discuss the relevance of the cold Fermi gases to other physics subdisciplines. We then summarize how BCS-BEC crossover in the ultracold gases connects with a particularly important topic in condensed matter: high temperature superconductivity. We emphasize some striking similarities relating to the very unusual normal or 'pseudogap' phase of each of the two systems. In the process we give a summary of some of the latest exciting experimental developments in the two fields.
Photon counting as a probe of superfluidity in a two-band Bose-Hubbard system coupled to a cavity field.
Rajaram, Sara; Trivedi, Nandini
We show that photon number measurement can be used to detect superfluidity for a two-band Bose-Hubbard model coupled to a cavity field. The atom-photon coupling induces transitions between the two internal atomic levels and results in entangled polaritonic states. In the presence of a cavity field, we find different photon numbers in the Mott-insulating versus superfluid phases, providing a method of distinguishing the atomic phases by photon counting. Furthermore, we examine the dynamics of the photon field after a rapid quench to zero atomic hopping by increasing the well depth. We find a robust correlation between the field's quench dynamics and the initial superfluid order parameter, thereby providing a novel and accurate method of determining the order parameter.
Note on zero temperature holographic superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Guo, Minyong; Lan, Shanquan; Niu, Chao; Tian, Yu; Zhang, Hongbao
In this note, we have addressed various issues on zero temperature holographic superfluids. First, inspired by our numerical evidence for the equality between the superfluid density and particle density, we provide an elegant analytic proof for this equality by a boost trick. Second, using not only the frequency domain analysis but also the time domain analysis from numerical relativity, we identify the hydrodynamic normal modes and calculate out the sound speed, which is shown to increase with the chemical potential and saturate to the value predicted by the conformal field theory in the large chemical potential limit. Third, the generic non-thermalization is demonstrated by the fully nonlinear time evolution from a non-equilibrium state for our zero temperature holographic superfluid. Furthermore, a conserved Noether charge is proposed in support of this behavior.
Shapes of rotating superfluid helium nanodroplets
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bernando, Charles; Tanyag, Rico Mayro P.; Jones, Curtis; Bacellar, Camila; Bucher, Maximilian; Ferguson, Ken R.; Rupp, Daniela; Ziemkiewicz, Michael P.; Gomez, Luis F.; Chatterley, Adam S.; Gorkhover, Tais; Müller, Maria; Bozek, John; Carron, Sebastian; Kwok, Justin; Butler, Samuel L.; Möller, Thomas; Bostedt, Christoph; Gessner, Oliver; Vilesov, Andrey F.
Rotating superfluid He droplets of approximately 1 μm in diameter were obtained in a free nozzle beam expansion of liquid He in vacuum and were studied by single-shot coherent diffractive imaging using an x-ray free electron laser. The formation of strongly deformed droplets is evidenced by large anisotropies and intensity anomalies (streaks) in the obtained diffraction images. The analysis of the images shows that in addition to previously described axially symmetric oblate shapes, some droplets exhibit prolate shapes. Forward modeling of the diffraction images indicates that the shapes of rotating superfluid droplets are very similar to their classical counterparts, giving direct access to the droplet angular momenta and angular velocities. The analyses of the radial intensity distribution and appearance statistics of the anisotropic images confirm the existence of oblate metastable superfluid droplets with large angular momenta beyond the classical bifurcation threshold.
Superfluid helium-4 in one dimensional channel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, Duk Y.; Banavar, Samhita; Chan, Moses H. W.; Hayes, John; Sazio, Pier
Superfluidity, as superconductivity, cannot exist in a strict one-dimensional system. However, the experiments employing porous media showed that superfluid helium can flow through the pores of nanometer size. Here we report a study of the flow of liquid helium through a single hollow glass fiber of 4 cm in length with an open id of 150 nm between 1.6 and 2.3 K. We found the superfluid transition temperature was suppressed in the hollow cylinder and that there is no flow above the transition. Critical velocity at temperature below the transition temperature was determined. Our results bear some similarity to that found by Savard et. al. studying the flow of helium through a nanohole in a silicon nitrite membrane. Experimental study at Penn State is supported by NSF Grants No. DMR 1103159.
Transport coefficients in superfluid neutron stars
Tolos, Laura; Manuel, Cristina; Sarkar, Sreemoyee; Tarrus, Jaume
We study the shear and bulk viscosity coefficients as well as the thermal conductivity as arising from the collisions among phonons in superfluid neutron stars. We use effective field theory techniques to extract the allowed phonon collisional processes, written as a function of the equation of state and the gap of the system. The shear viscosity due to phonon scattering is compared to calculations of that coming from electron collisions. We also comment on the possible consequences for r-mode damping in superfluid neutron stars. Moreover, we find that phonon collisions give the leading contribution to the bulk viscosities in the core of the neutron stars. We finally obtain a temperature-independent thermal conductivity from phonon collisions and compare it with the electron-muon thermal conductivity in superfluid neutron stars.
Mark Kasevich
Atom de Broglie wave interferometry has emerged as a tool capable of addressing a diverse set of questions in gravitational and condensed matter physics, and as an enabling technology for advanced sensors in geodesy and navigation. This talk will review basic principles, then discuss recent applications and future directions. Scientific applications to be discussed include measurement of G (Newtonâs constant), tests of the Equivalence Principle and post-Newtonian gravity, and study of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in layered superfluids. Technology applications include development of precision gryoscopes and gravity gradiometers. The talk will conclude with speculative remarks looking to the future: Can atom interference methods be sued to detect gravity waves? Can non-classical (entangled/squeezed state) atom sources lead to meaningful sensor performance improvements?
Kasevich, Mark
Atom de Broglie wave interferometry has emerged as a tool capable of addressing a diverse set of questions in gravitational and condensed matter physics, and as an enabling technology for advanced sensors in geodesy and navigation. This talk will review basic principles, then discuss recent applications and future directions. Scientific applications to be discussed include measurement of G (Newton's constant), tests of the Equivalence Principle and post-Newtonian gravity, and study of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in layered superfluids. Technology applications include development of precision gyroscopes and gravity gradiometers. The talk will conclude with speculative remarks looking to the future: Can atom interference methods be used to detect gravity waves? Can non-classical (entangled/squeezed state) atom sources lead to meaningful sensor performance improvements?
Mark Kasevich
Atom de Broglie wave interferometry has emerged as a tool capable of addressing a diverse set of questions in gravitational and condensed matter physics, and as an enabling technology for advanced sensors in geodesy and navigation. This talk will review basic principles, then discuss recent applications and future directions. Scientific applications to be discussed include measurement of G (Newton's constant), tests of the Equivalence Principle and post-Newtonian gravity, and study of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in layered superfluids. Technology applications include development of precision gryoscopes and gravity gradiometers. The talk will conclude with speculative remarks looking to the future: Can atom interference methods be sued to detect gravity waves? Can non-classical (entangled/squeezed state) atom sources lead to meaningful sensor performance improvements?
Superfluid-like turbulence in cosmology
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Gradwohl, Ben-Ami
A network of vortices in a superfluid system exhibits turbulent behavior. It is argued that the universe may have experienced such a phase of superfluid-like turbulence due to the existence of a coherent state with non-topological charge and a network of global strings. The unique feature of a distribution of turbulent domains is that it can yield non-gravitationally induced large-scale coherent velocities. It may be difficult, however, to relate these velocities to the observed large-scale bulk motion.
Superfluid light in bulk nonlinear media
Carusotto, Iacopo
We review how the paraxial approximation naturally leads to a hydrodynamic description of light propagation in a bulk Kerr nonlinear medium in terms of a wave equation analogous to the Gross–Pitaevskii equation for the order parameter of a superfluid. The main features of the many-body collective dynamics of the fluid of light in this propagating geometry are discussed: generation and observation of Bogoliubov sound waves in the fluid of light is first described. Experimentally accessible manifestations of superfluidity are then highlighted. Perspectives in view of realizing analogue models of gravity are finally given. PMID:25197252
Quantum Gravity as Theory of ``Superfluidity''
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Barbashov, B. M.; Pervushin, V. N.; Zakharov, A. F.; Zinchuk, V. A.
A version of the cosmological perturbation theory in general relativity (GR) is developed, where the cosmological scale factor is identified with spatial averaging of the metric determinant logarithm and the cosmic evolution acquires the pattern of a superfluid motion: the absence of ``friction-type'' interaction, the London-type wave function, and the Bogoliubov condensation of quantum universes. This identification keeps the number of variables of GR and leads to a new type of potential perturbations. A set of arguments is given in favor of that this ``superfluid'' version of GR is in agreement with the observational data.
How superfluid vortex knots untie
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kleckner, Dustin; Kauffman, Louis H.; Irvine, William T. M.
Knots and links often occur in physical systems, including shaken strands of rope and DNA (ref. ), as well as the more subtle structure of vortices in fluids and magnetic fields in plasmas. Theories of fluid flows without dissipation predict these tangled structures persist, constraining the evolution of the flow much like a knot tied in a shoelace. This constraint gives rise to a conserved quantity known as helicity, offering both fundamental insights and enticing possibilities for controlling complex flows. However, even small amounts of dissipation allow knots to untie by means of `cut-and-splice' operations known as reconnections. Despite the potentially fundamental role of these reconnections in understanding helicity--and the stability of knotted fields more generally--their effect is known only for a handful of simple knots. Here we study the evolution of 322 elemental knots and links in the Gross-Pitaevskii model for a superfluid, and find that they universally untie. We observe that the centreline helicity is partially preserved even as the knots untie, a remnant of the perfect helicity conservation predicted for idealized fluids. Moreover, we find that the topological pathways of untying knots have simple descriptions in terms of minimal two-dimensional knot diagrams, and tend to concentrate in states which are twisted in only one direction. These results have direct analogies to previous studies of simple knots in several systems, including DNA recombination and classical fluids. This similarity in the geometric and topological evolution suggests there are universal aspects in the behaviour of knots in dissipative fields.
Universal spatiotemporal dynamics of spontaneous superfluidity breakdown in the presence of synthetic gauge fields
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, Shuyuan; Qin, Xizhou; Xu, Jun; Lee, Chaohong
According to the famous Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM), the universality of spontaneous defect generation in continuous phase transitions (CPTs) can be understood by the critical slowing down. In most CPTs of atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), the universality of spontaneous defect generations has been explained by the divergent relaxation time associated with the nontrivial gapless Bogoliubov excitations. However, for atomic BECs in synthetic gauge fields, their spontaneous superfluidity breakdown results from the divergent correlation length associated with the zero Landau critical velocity. Here, by considering an atomic BEC ladder subjected to a synthetic magnetic field, we reveal that the spontaneous superfluidity breakdown obeys the KZM. The Kibble-Zurek scalings are derived from the Landau critical velocity which determines the correlation length. Furthermore, the critical exponents are numerically extracted from the critical spatiotemporal dynamics of the bifurcation delay and the spontaneous vortex generation. Our study provides a general way to explore and understand the spontaneous superfluidity breakdown in CPTs from a single-well dispersion to a double-well one, such as BECs in synthetic gauge fields, spin-orbit-coupled BECs, and BECs in shaken optical lattices.
Rapidly rotating superfluid neutron stars in Newtonian dynamics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yoshida, Shijun; Eriguchi, Yoshiharu
We develop a formulation for constructing and examining rapidly rotating Newtonian neutron star models that contain two superfluids, taking account of the effect of the rotation velocity difference between two superfluids. We assume neutron stars to be composed of the superfluid neutrons and a mixture of the superfluid protons and the normal fluid electrons. To describe Newtonian dynamics of the two superfluids, the Newtonian version of the so-called two-fluid formalism is employed. The effect of the rotation velocity difference on the structure of equilibrium state is treated as a small perturbation to rapidly rotating superfluid stars whose angular velocities of two superfluids are assumed to be exactly the same. We derive basic equations for the perturbed structures of rapidly rotating superfluid stars due to the rotation velocity difference between two superfluids. Assuming the superfluids to obey a simple analytical equation of state proposed by Prix, Comer and Andersson, we obtain numerical solutions for the perturbations and find that the density distributions of the superfluids are strongly dependent on the parameter σ, which appears in the analytical equation of state and characterizes the so-called symmetry energy. It is also found that if the analytical equation of state of Prix et al. is assumed, the perturbations can be represented in terms of the universal functions that are independent of the parameters of the equation of state.
Squeezing Superfluid from a Stone: Coupling Superfluidity and Elasticity in a Supersolid
Dorsey, Alan T.; Goldbart, Paul M.; Toner, John
Starting from the assumption that the normal solid to supersolid (NS-SS) phase transition is continuous, we develop a phenomenological Landau theory of the transition in which superfluidity is coupled to the elasticity of the crystalline {sup 4}He lattice. We find that the elasticity does not affect the universal properties of the superfluid transition, so that in an unstressed crystal the well-known {lambda} anomaly in the heat capacity of the superfluid transition should also appear at the NS-SS transition. We also find that the onset of supersolidity leads to anomalies in the elastic moduli and thermal expansion coefficients near the transition and, conversely, that inhomogeneous lattice strains can induce local variations of the superfluid transition temperature, leading to a broadened transition.
Dynamics of Laser Ablation in Superfluid ^4{He}
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Buelna, X.; Popov, E.; Eloranta, J.
Pulsed laser ablation of metal targets immersed in superfluid ^4{He} is visualized by time-resolved shadowgraph photography and the products are analyzed by post-experiment atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. The expansion dynamics of the gaseous ablation half-bubble on the target surface appears underdamped and follows the predicted behavior for the thermally induced bubble growth mechanism. An inherent instability of the ablation bubble appears near its maximum radius and no tightly focused cavity collapse or rebound events are observed. During the ablation bubble retreat phase, the presence of sharp edges in the target introduces flow patterns that lead to the creation of large classical vortex rings. Furthermore, on the nanometer scale, AFM data reveal that the metal nanoparticles created by laser ablation are trapped in spherical vortex tangles and quantized vortex rings present in the non-equilibrium liquid.
Observing chiral superfluid order by matter-wave interference.
Kock, T; Ölschläger, M; Ewerbeck, A; Huang, W-M; Mathey, L; Hemmerich, A
The breaking of time-reversal symmetry via the spontaneous formation of chiral order is ubiquitous in nature. Here, we present an unambiguous demonstration of this phenomenon for atoms Bose-Einstein condensed in the second Bloch band of an optical lattice. As a key tool, we use a matter-wave interference technique, which lets us directly observe the phase properties of the superfluid order parameter and allows us to reconstruct the spatial geometry of certain low-energy excitations, associated with the formation of domains of different chirality. Our work marks a new era of optical lattices where orbital degrees of freedom play an essential role for the formation of exotic quantum matter, similarly as in electronic systems.
Stationary Vortices and Pair Currents in a Trapped Fermion Superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Capuzzi, P.; Hernández, E. S.; Szybisz, L.
We examine the effects of stationary vortices in superfluid Li atoms at zero temperature in the frame of the recently developed fluiddynamical scheme, that includes the pair density and its associated pair current and pair kinetic energy in addition to the fields appearing in the hydrodynamical description of normal fluids. In this frame, the presence of any particle velocity field gives rise to the appearance of a pair current. As an illustration, we consider a stationary vortex with cylindrical geometry in an unpolarized fluid, and examine the effects of the rotational velocity field on the spatial structure of the equilibrium gap and the profiles of the pair current. We show that the latter is intrinsically complex and its imaginary part is the source of a radial drift for the velocity field. We discuss the consequences on the stationary regime.
3He: cosmological and atomic physics experiments.
Bunkov, Yuriy M
Because the superfluid 3He order parameter exhibits many similarities with that of our Universe, the superfluid condensate may be considered as a quantum vacuum that carries various types of quasiparticles and topological defects. The condensate thus provides a test system for the experimental investigation of many general physics problems in cosmology, atomic or nuclear physics that are otherwise difficult or even impossible to investigate experimentally.
This animation zooms into an image of the Milky Way, shown in visible light, and superimposes a gamma-ray map of the galactic center from NASA's Fermi. Raw data transitions to a view with all known...
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hays, Elizabeth
An overview of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope's first 6 months in operation is provided. The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, formerly called GLAST, is a mission to measure the cosmic gamma-ray flux in the energy rage 20 MeV to more than 300 GeV, with supporting measurements for gamma-ray bursts from 8 keV to 30 MeV. It contains a Large Area Telescope capable of viewing the entire sky every 3 hours and a Gamma-ray Burst Monitor for viewing the entire unocculted sky. Since its launch on June 11, 2008 Fermi has provided information on pulsars, gamma ray bursts, relativistic jets, the active galactic nucleus, and a globular star cluster. This presentation describes Fermi's development, mission, instruments and recent findings.
Phase transitions of dense neutron matter with generalized Skyrme interaction to superfluid states with triplet pairing in strong magnetic field
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tarasov, A. N.
A generalized non-relativistic Fermi-liquid approach was used to find analytical formulas for temperatures Tc1(n, H) and Tc2(n, H) (which are functions nonlinear of density n and linear of magnetic field H) of phase transitions in spatially uniform dense pure neutron matter from normal to superfluid states with spin-triplet p-wave pairing (similar to anisotropic superfluid phases 3He-A1 and 3He-A2) in steady and homogeneous strong magnetic field (but |μn| H ll Ec < ɛF(n), where μn is the magnetic dipole moment of a neutron, Ec is the cutoff energy and ɛF(n) is the Fermi energy in neutron matter). General formulas for Tc1, 2 (n, H) (valid for arbitrary parameterization of the effective Skyrme interaction in neutron matter) are specified here for generalized BSk18 parameterization of the Skyrme forces (with additional terms dependent on density n) on the interval 0.3 n0 < n < nc (BSk18) ≍ 2.7952 · n0, where n0 = 0.17 fm-3 is nuclear density and at critical density nc(BSk18) triplet superfluidity disappears, Tc0(n, cH = 0) = 0. Expressions for phase transition temperatures Tc0(n)<0.09MeV (at Ec = 10MeV) and Tc1, 2(n, H) are realistic non-monotone functions of density n for BSk18 parameterization of the Skyrme forces (contrary to their monotone increase for all previous BSk parameterizations). Phase transitions to superfluid states of such type might occur in liquid outer core of magnetars (strongly magnetized neutron stars).
Internal Magnus effects in superfluid 3A
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salmelin, R. H.; Salomaa, M. M.; Mineev, V. P.
Orbital angular momentum of the coherently aligned Cooper pairs in superfluid 3A is encountered by an object immersed in the condensate. We evaluate the associated quasiparticle-scattering asymmetry experienced by a negative ion; this leads to a measureable, purely quantum-mechanical reactive force deflecting the ion's trajectory. Possible hydrodynamic Magnus effects are also discussed.
Magnus force in superfluids and superconductors
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sonin, E. B.
The forces on the vortex, transverse to its velocity, are considered. In addition to the superfluid Magnus force from the condensate (superfluid component), there are transverse forces from thermal quasiparticles and external fields violating the Galilean invariance. The forces between quasiparticles and the vortex originate from interference of quasiparticles with trajectories on the left and on the right from the vortex like similar forces for electrons interacting with the thin magnetic-flux tube (the Aharonov-Bohm effect). These forces are derived for phonons from the equations of superfluid hydrodynamics, and for BCS quasiparticles from the Bogolyubov-de Gennes equations. The effect of external fields breaking Galilean invariance is analyzed for vortices in the two-dimensional Josephson junction array. The symmetry analysis of the classical equations for the array shows that the total transverse force on the vortex vanishes. Therefore the Hall effect which is linear in the transverse force is absent also. This means that the Magnus force from the superfluid component exactly cancels with the transverse force from the external fields. The results of other approaches are also brought together for discussion.
Nonlocal Magnetoresistance Mediated by Spin Superfluidity.
Takei, So; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav
The electrical response of two diffusive metals is studied when they are linked by a magnetic insulator hosting a topologically stable (superfluid) spin current. We discuss how charge currents in the metals induce a spin supercurrent state, which in turn generates a magnetoresistance that depends on the topology of the electrical circuit. This magnetoresistance relies on phase coherence over the entire magnet and gives direct evidence for spin superfluidity. We show that driving the magnet with an ac current allows coherent spin transport even in the presence of U(1)-breaking magnetic anisotropy that can preclude dc superfluid transport. Spin transmission in the ac regime shows a series of resonance peaks as a function of frequency. The peak locations, heights, and widths can be used to extract static interfacial properties, e.g., the spin-mixing conductance and effective spin Hall angle, and to probe dynamic properties such as the spin-wave dispersion. Thus, ac transport may provide a simpler route to realizing nonequilbrium coherent spin transport and a useful way to characterize the magnetic system, serving as a precursor to the realization of dc superfluid spin transport.
Fiber-Cavity Optomechanics with Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Flowers-Jacobs, Nathan E.; Kashkanova, Anna D.; Shkarin, Alexey B.; Hoch, Scott W.; Deutsch, Christian; Reichel, Jakob; Harris, Jack G. E.
In a typical optomechanical device, the resonance frequency of a cavity is coupled to mechanical motion through the radiation pressure force. To date, experimental cavities have predominately coupled to a resonant mechanical mode of a solid structure, often a lithographically-defined beam or membrane. We will describe our progress towards realizing an optomechanical device in which an optical fiber-cavity couples to the acoustic modes of superfluid helium. In this system, the optical modes and the acoustic modes of the superfluid are co-located between the mirrored ends of two fiber optic cables. Changes in the density of the superfluid change the effective length of the cavity which results in a standard, linear optomechanical coupling between the 300 MHz acoustic resonances and the 200 THz optical resonances. This type of device is motivated by the self-aligning nature of the acoustic and optical modes (which eases the difficulties of operating at cryogenic temperatures) and by the low optical and mechanical losses of superfluid helium. Although we expect the mechanical quality factor to be limited by acoustic radiation into the glass fiber, we will describe a proposal to realize a dual-band Bragg mirror to confine the optical and acoustic modes more efficiently. Supported by NSF Grant #1106110, ARO Grant #W911NF-13-1-0104, and the DARPA/MTO ORCHID program through a grant from AFOSR.
Measurements with a recuperative superfluid Stirling refrigerator
Watanabe, A.; Swift, G.W.; Brisson, J.G.
A superfluid Stirling refrigerator cooled to 168 mK using a 4.9% {sup 3}He- {sup 4}He mixture and exhausting its waste heat at 383 mK. Cooling power versus temperature and speed is presented for 4.9%, 17%, and 36% mixtures. At the highest concentration, a dissipation mechanism of unknown origin is observed.
Dissipation in relativistic superfluid neutron stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gusakov, M. E.; Kantor, E. M.; Chugunov, A. I.; Gualtieri, L.
We analyse damping of oscillations of general relativistic superfluid neutron stars. To this aim we extend the method of decoupling of superfluid and normal oscillation modes first suggested in Gusakov & Kantor. All calculations are made self-consistently within the finite temperature superfluid hydrodynamics. The general analytic formulas are derived for damping times due to the shear and bulk viscosities. These formulas describe both normal and superfluid neutron stars and are valid for oscillation modes of arbitrary multipolarity. We show that (i) use of the ordinary one-fluid hydrodynamics is a good approximation, for most of the stellar temperatures, if one is interested in calculation of the damping times of normal f modes, (ii) for radial and p modes such an approximation is poor and (iii) the temperature dependence of damping times undergoes a set of rapid changes associated with resonance coupling of neighbouring oscillation modes. The latter effect can substantially accelerate viscous damping of normal modes in certain stages of neutron-star thermal evolution.
Superfluidity and Chaos in low dimensional circuits
Arwas, Geva; Vardi, Amichay; Cohen, Doron
The hallmark of superfluidity is the appearance of "vortex states" carrying a quantized metastable circulating current. Considering a unidirectional flow of particles in a ring, at first it appears that any amount of scattering will randomize the velocity, as in the Drude model, and eventually the ergodic steady state will be characterized by a vanishingly small fluctuating current. However, Landau and followers have shown that this is not always the case. If elementary excitations (e.g. phonons) have higher velocity than that of the flow, simple kinematic considerations imply metastability of the vortex state: the energy of the motion cannot dissipate into phonons. On the other hand if this Landau criterion is violated the circulating current can decay. Below we show that the standard Landau and Bogoliubov superfluidity criteria fail in low-dimensional circuits. Proper determination of the superfluidity regime-diagram must account for the crucial role of chaos, an ingredient missing from the conventional stability analysis. Accordingly, we find novel types of superfluidity, associated with irregular or chaotic or breathing vortex states. PMID:26315272
Magnus force in superfluids and superconductors
Sonin, E.B. |
The forces on the vortex, transverse to its velocity, are considered. In addition to the superfluid Magnus force from the condensate (superfluid component), there are transverse forces from thermal quasiparticles and external fields violating the Galilean invariance. The forces between quasiparticles and the vortex originate from interference of quasiparticles with trajectories on the left and on the right from the vortex like similar forces for electrons interacting with the thin magnetic-flux tube (the Aharonov-Bohm effect). These forces are derived for phonons from the equations of superfluid hydrodynamics, and for BCS quasiparticles from the Bogolyubov{endash}de Gennes equations. The effect of external fields breaking Galilean invariance is analyzed for vortices in the two-dimensional Josephson junction array. The symmetry analysis of the classical equations for the array shows that the total transverse force on the vortex vanishes. Therefore the Hall effect which is linear in the transverse force is absent also. This means that the Magnus force from the superfluid component {ital exactly} cancels with the transverse force from the external fields. The results of other approaches are also brought together for discussion. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Electron Bubbles in Superfluid ^3 He-A: Exploring the Quasiparticle-Ion Interaction
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shevtsov, Oleksii; Sauls, J. A.
When an electron is forced into liquid ^3 He, it forms an "electron bubble", a heavy ion with radius, R˜eq 1.5 nm, and mass, M˜eq 100 m_3 , where m_3 is the mass of a ^3 He atom. These negative ions have proven to be powerful local probes of the physical properties of the host quantum fluid, especially the excitation spectra of the superfluid phases. We recently developed a theory for Bogoliubov quasiparticles scattering off electron bubbles embedded in a chiral superfluid that provides a detailed understanding of the spectrum of Weyl Fermions bound to the negative ion, as well as a theory for the forces on moving electron bubbles in superfluid ^3 He-A (Shevtsov and Sauls in Phys Rev B 94:064511, 2016). This theory is shown to provide quantitative agreement with measurements reported by the RIKEN group (Ikegami et al. in Science 341(6141):59, 2013) for the drag force and anomalous Hall effect of moving electron bubbles in superfluid ^3 He-A. In this report, we discuss the sensitivity of the forces on the moving ion to the effective interaction between normal-state quasiparticles and the ion. We consider models for the quasiparticle-ion (QP-ion) interaction, including the hard-sphere potential, constrained random-phase-shifts, and interactions with short-range repulsion and intermediate-range attraction. Our results show that the transverse force responsible for the anomalous Hall effect is particularly sensitive to the structure of the QP-ion potential and that strong short-range repulsion, captured by the hard-sphere potential, provides an accurate model for computing the forces acting on the moving electron bubble in superfluid 3 He-A.
Phase transitions in the hard-core Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model at non-zero temperatures in the heavy-fermion limit
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Stasyuk, I. V.; Krasnov, V. O.
Phase transitions at non-zero temperatures in ultracold Bose- and Fermi-particles mixture in optical lattices using the Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model in the mean field and hard-core boson approximations are investigated. The case of infinitely small fermion transfer and the repulsive on-site boson-fermion interaction is considered. The possibility of change of order (from the 2nd to the 1st one) of the phase transition to the superfluid phase in the regime of fixed values of the chemical potentials of Bose- and Fermi-particles is established. The relevant phase diagrams determining the conditions at which such a change takes place, are built.
Facile time-of-flight methods for characterizing pulsed superfluid helium droplet beams
He, Yunteng; Zhang, Jie; Li, Yang; Freund, William M.; Kong, Wei
We present two facile time-of-flight (TOF) methods of detecting superfluid helium droplets and droplets with neutral dopants. Without an electron gun and with only a heated filament and pulsed electrodes, the electron impact ionization TOF mass spectrometer can resolve ionized helium clusters such as He{sub 2}{sup +} and He{sub 4}{sup +}, which are signatures of superfluid helium droplets. Without ionizing any helium atoms, multiphoton non-resonant laser ionization of CCl{sub 4} doped in superfluid helium droplets at 266 nm generates complex cluster ions of dopant fragments with helium atoms, including (He){sub n}C{sup +}, (He){sub n}Cl{sup +}, and (He){sub n}CCl{sup +}. Using both methods, we have characterized our cryogenic pulsed valve—the Even-Lavie valve. We have observed a primary pulse with larger helium droplets traveling at a slower speed and a rebound pulse with smaller droplets at a faster speed. In addition, the pickup efficiency of dopant is higher for the primary pulse when the nozzle temperature is higher than 13 K, and the total time duration of the doped droplet pulse is only on the order of 20 μs. These results stress the importance of fast and easy characterization of the droplet beam for sensitive measurements such as electron diffraction of doped droplets.
Facile time-of-flight methods for characterizing pulsed superfluid helium droplet beams.
He, Yunteng; Zhang, Jie; Li, Yang; Freund, William M; Kong, Wei
We present two facile time-of-flight (TOF) methods of detecting superfluid helium droplets and droplets with neutral dopants. Without an electron gun and with only a heated filament and pulsed electrodes, the electron impact ionization TOF mass spectrometer can resolve ionized helium clusters such as He2(+) and He4(+), which are signatures of superfluid helium droplets. Without ionizing any helium atoms, multiphoton non-resonant laser ionization of CCl4 doped in superfluid helium droplets at 266 nm generates complex cluster ions of dopant fragments with helium atoms, including (He)(n)C(+), (He)(n)Cl(+), and (He)(n)CCl(+). Using both methods, we have characterized our cryogenic pulsed valve—the Even-Lavie valve. We have observed a primary pulse with larger helium droplets traveling at a slower speed and a rebound pulse with smaller droplets at a faster speed. In addition, the pickup efficiency of dopant is higher for the primary pulse when the nozzle temperature is higher than 13 K, and the total time duration of the doped droplet pulse is only on the order of 20 μs. These results stress the importance of fast and easy characterization of the droplet beam for sensitive measurements such as electron diffraction of doped droplets.
Third Sound Measurements of Superfluid 4He Films on Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Below 1 K
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Menachekanian, Emin; Iaia, Vito; Li, Andrew; Chen, Bob; Williams, Gary
Third sound is studied for superfluid films of 4He adsorbed on multiwall carbon nanotubes of average diameter 12 Angstroms packed into an annular resonator. The third sound is generated with mechanical oscillation of the cell, and detected with carbon bolometers. A filling curve at temperatures near 250 mK shows oscillations in the third sound velocity, with maxima at the completion of the third and fourth atomic layers. The ``dead'' layer appears to be close to two atomic layers, about one layer thinner than previously found for flat graphite surfaces. We attribute this weaker binding to the effect of the cylindrical geometry on the van der Waals potential, the repulsive surface tension forces from the high curvature, and the lower density of the tubes compared to graphite. At the completion of the third layer there is a sudden reduction of the superfluid onset temperature, and then a recovery back to the Kosterlitz-Thouless linear dependence, forming re-entrant superfluidity. In a small region around 2.5 layers there is very anomalous behavior in the low-temperature variation of the third sound velocity, which is found to increase linearly with temperature. This could be related to changes in the gas-liquid coexistence at this intermediate fill. Work supported in part by the Nation Science Foundation, Grant DMR 0906467.
Electron impact ionization and multiphoton ionization of doped superfluid helium droplets: A comparison.
He, Yunteng; Zhang, Jie; Kong, Wei
We compare characteristics of electron impact ionization (EI) and multiphoton ionization (MPI) of doped superfluid helium droplets using the same droplet source. Selected dopant ion fragments from the two ionization schemes demonstrate different dependence on the doping pressure, which could be attributed to the different ionization mechanisms. While EI directly ionizes helium atoms in a droplet therefore has higher yields for bigger droplets (within a limited size range), MPI is insensitive to the helium in a droplet and is only dependent on the number of dopant molecules. The optimal timing of the ionization pulse also varies with the doping pressure, implying a velocity slip among different sized droplets. Calculations of the doping statistics and ionization probabilities qualitatively agree with the experimental data. Our results offer a word of caution in interpreting the pressure and timing dependence of superfluid helium droplets, and we also devise a scheme in achieving a high degree of doping while limiting the contribution of dopant clusters.
Electron impact ionization and multiphoton ionization of doped superfluid helium droplets: A comparison
We compare characteristics of electron impact ionization (EI) and multiphoton ionization (MPI) of doped superfluid helium droplets using the same droplet source. Selected dopant ion fragments from the two ionization schemes demonstrate different dependence on the doping pressure, which could be attributed to the different ionization mechanisms. While EI directly ionizes helium atoms in a droplet therefore has higher yields for bigger droplets (within a limited size range), MPI is insensitive to the helium in a droplet and is only dependent on the number of dopant molecules. The optimal timing of the ionization pulse also varies with the doping pressure, implying a velocity slip among different sized droplets. Calculations of the doping statistics and ionization probabilities qualitatively agree with the experimental data. Our results offer a word of caution in interpreting the pressure and timing dependence of superfluid helium droplets, and we also devise a scheme in achieving a high degree of doping while limiting the contribution of dopant clusters. PMID:26931697
Comparison between theory and experiment for universal thermodynamics of a homogeneous, strongly correlated Fermi gas
Hu Hui; Liu Xiaji; Drummond, Peter D.
We compare the theoretical predictions for universal thermodynamics of a homogeneous, strongly correlated Fermi gas with the latest experimental measurements reported by the ENS group [S. Nascimbene et al., Nature (London) 463, 1057 (2010)] and the Tokyo group [M. Horikoshi et al., Science 327, 442 (2010)]. The theoretical results are obtained using two diagrammatic theories, together with a virial expansion theory combined with a Pade approximation. We find good agreement between theory and experiment. In particular, the virial expansion, using a Pade approximation up to third order, describes the experimental results extremely well down to the superfluid transition temperature, T{sub c{approx}}0.16T{sub F}, where T{sub F} is the Fermi temperature. The comparison in this work complements our previous comparative study on the universal thermodynamics of a strongly correlated but trapped Fermi gas. The comparison also raises interesting issues about the unitary entropy and the applicability of the Pade approximation.
Localization of a Bose-Fermi mixture in a bichromatic optical lattice
Cheng Yongshan; Adhikari, S. K.
We study the localization of a cigar-shaped superfluid Bose-Fermi mixture in a quasiperiodic bichromatic optical lattice (OL) for interspecies attraction and intraspecies repulsion. The mixture is described by the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the bosons, coupled to a hydrodynamic mean-field equation for fermions at unitarity. We confirm the existence of the symbiotic localized states in the Bose-Fermi mixture and Anderson localization of the Bose component in the interacting Bose-Fermi mixture on a bichromatic OL. The phase diagram in boson and fermion numbers showing the regions of the symbiotic and Anderson localization of the Bose component is presented. Finally, the stability of symbiotic and Anderson localized states is established under small perturbations.
Decay of Finite Temperature Superfluid Helium-4 Turbulence
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kivotides, Demosthenes
A mesoscopic model of superfluid helium-4, that describes the dynamics of individual topological defects of the ground state (superfluid vortices) and their (self-consistent) interactions with its quasi-particle excitations (normal-fluid), is solved numerically in order to analyse the physics of decaying homogeneous, isotropic turbulence. The calculations predict several temporal decay regimes not present in classical turbulence decay, the corresponding superfluid and normal-fluid energy spectra, and the experimentally observed scaling for the superfluid vortex line density at large times. The results demonstrate that the origin of this scaling is the energy spent by the superfluid in order to sustain a fluctuating low Reynolds number flow in the normal-fluid, and not the locking of turbulent superfluid and normal-fluid vorticities.
Novel p-wave superfluids of fermionic polar molecules
Fedorov, A. K.; Matveenko, S. I.; Yudson, V. I.; Shlyapnikov, G. V.
Recently suggested subwavelength lattices offer remarkable prospects for the observation of novel superfluids of fermionic polar molecules. It becomes realistic to obtain a topological p-wave superfluid of microwave-dressed polar molecules in 2D lattices at temperatures of the order of tens of nanokelvins, which is promising for topologically protected quantum information processing. Another foreseen novel phase is an interlayer p-wave superfluid of polar molecules in a bilayer geometry. PMID:27278711
Yocum, D.R.; Berman, E.; Canal, P.; Chadwick, K.; Hesselroth, T.; Garzoglio, G.; Levshina, T.; Sergeev, V.; Sfiligoi, I.; Sharma, N.; Timm, S.; /Fermilab
As one of the founding members of the Open Science Grid Consortium (OSG), Fermilab enables coherent access to its production resources through the Grid infrastructure system called FermiGrid. This system successfully provides for centrally managed grid services, opportunistic resource access, development of OSG Interfaces for Fermilab, and an interface to the Fermilab dCache system. FermiGrid supports virtual organizations (VOs) including high energy physics experiments (USCMS, MINOS, D0, CDF, ILC), astrophysics experiments (SDSS, Auger, DES), biology experiments (GADU, Nanohub) and educational activities.
Knots and Coils in Superfluid Vortices
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kleckner, Dustin; Proment, Davide; Scheeler, Martin; Irvine, William T. M.
Recent work has demonstrated that linked and knotted vortices will spontaneously unknot or untie in both classical fluids and superfluids. This effect would appear to jeopardize any notion of conservation of fluid topology (helicity), but this need not be the case: vortices can transfer their knottedness to helical coils, preserving some measure of the original topology. By simulating superfluid vortices in the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, we find a geometric mechanism for efficiently transferring helicity in exactly this manner. Remarkably, the same transfer of topology to geometry also appears in viscous fluid vortices, suggesting it is a generic feature of non-ideal fluids. This work was supported by the NSF MRSEC shared facilities at the University of Chicago (DMR-0820054) and an NSF CAREER Award (DMR-1351506). W.T.M.I. further acknowledges support from the A.P. Sloan Foundation and the Packard Foundation.
Landau superfluids as nonequilibrium stationary states
Wreszinski, Walter F.
We define a superfluid state to be a nonequilibrium stationary state (NESS), which, at zero temperature, satisfies certain metastability conditions, which physically express that there should be a sufficiently small energy-momentum transfer between the particles of the fluid and the surroundings (e.g., pipe). It is shown that two models, the Girardeau model and the Huang-Yang-Luttinger (HYL) model, describe superfluids in this sense and, moreover, that, in the case of the HYL model, the metastability condition is directly related to Nozières' conjecture that, due to the repulsive interaction, the condensate does not suffer fragmentation into two (or more) parts, thereby assuring its quantum coherence. The models are rigorous examples of NESS in which the system is not finite, but rather a many-body system.
Dynamics and nucleation of vorticity in superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Freire, Jose Arruda De Oliveira
This thesis contains numerical studies on vortex dynamics and on quantum nucleation of vorticity in superfluids at zero temperature. In both cases the superfluid was described by the Gross-Pitaevskii model. In the first part of the thesis, the vortex mass problem is analyzed by a numerical integration of the condensate equation of motion, the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. We were able to extract, from the observed vortex dynamics in a time-dependent superflow, the frequency dependence of the vortex effective mass. In the second part, the problem of quantum nucleation of vorticity in superflows past obstacles, in both one and two dimensions, is studied by the application of the bounce formalism of Coleman (12) to the coherent state action of the Gross-Pitaevskii model. We obtained bounce solutions and tunneling rates by directly solving the field equations for the condensate in imaginary time.
Characterization of reconnecting vortices in superfluid helium
Bewley, Gregory P.; Paoletti, Matthew S.; Sreenivasan, Katepalli R.; Lathrop, Daniel P.
When two vortices cross, each of them breaks into two parts and exchanges part of itself for part of the other. This process, called vortex reconnection, occurs in classical and superfluids, and in magnetized plasmas and superconductors. We present the first experimental observations of reconnection between quantized vortices in superfluid helium. We do so by imaging micrometer-sized solid hydrogen particles trapped on quantized vortex cores and by inferring the occurrence of reconnection from the motions of groups of recoiling particles. We show that the distance separating particles on the just-reconnected vortex lines grows as a power law in time. The average value of the scaling exponent is approximately ½, consistent with the self-similar evolution of the vortices. PMID:18768790
Magnus and Iordanskii Forces in Superfluids
Wexler, C.
The transverse force acting on a quantized vortex in a superfluid is a problem that has eluded a complete understanding for more than three decades. In this Letter I calculate the {ital superfluid } velocity part of the transverse force in a way closely related to Laughlin{close_quote}s argument for the quantization of conductance in the quantum Hall effect. A combination of this result, the {ital vortex} velocity part of the transverse force found by Thouless, Ao, and Niu [Phys.Rev.Lett.{bold 76}, 3758 (1996)], and Galilean invariance shows that there cannot be a transverse force proportional to the normal fluid velocity. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Particle-Vortex Interaction in Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Barenghi, Carlo F.
The application of the classical Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique in liquid helium has opened the way to better visualization of superfluid turbulence. To interpret the data, it is necessary to understand the interaction between micron-size tracer particles and vortex lines. This talk summarizes current understanding of this interaction resulting from theoretical and numerical calculations. In collaboration with Yuri A. Sergeev, Newcastle University.
Superfluid 3He in ``nematically ordered'' aerogel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dmitriev, Vladimir
Liquid 3He immersed in aerogel allows investigation of the influence of impurities on unconventional superfluidity. In most of such experiments silica aerogels are used. These aerogels consist of thin strands which form a ``wisp.'' Although it is established that superfluid phases of 3He in silica aerogels (A-like and B-like) have the same order parameters as A and B phases of bulk 3He, many new phenomena were observed. In particular, it was found that global anisotropy of aerogel (e.g. caused by squeezing or stretching) can orient the order parameter. Depending on prehistory and on the type of the anisotropy the A-like phase may be homogeneous or in a state with random orbital part of the order parameter. Theory predicts that a large stretching anisotropy may even influence the order parameter structure: polar phase (or A phase with polar distortion), which are not realized in bulk 3He, may become more favorable than pure A phase. Large stretching anisotropy is hardly achievable in silica aerogel. Therefore in experiments described in the talk we used a new type of aerogel, consisting of Al2O3 . H2O strands which are parallel to each other, i.e. this aerogel may be considered as infinitely stretched. We found that the superfluid phase diagram of 3He in such ``nematically ordered'' aerogel is different from the case of 3He in silica aerogel and that both observed A and B phases have large polar distortion. This distortion is larger at low pressures and grows on warming. There are indications that a pure polar phase appears near the superfluid transition temperature. Recent results will be also presented.
Superfluidity in Bose-Hubbard circuits
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Arwas, Geva; Cohen, Doron
A semiclassical theory is provided for the metastability regime diagram of atomtronic superfluid circuits. Such circuits typically exhibit high-dimensional chaos, and nonlinear resonances that couple the Bogoliubov excitations manifest. Contrary to the expectation, these resonances do not originate from the familiar Beliaev and Landau damping terms. Rather, they are described by a variant of the Cherry Hamiltonian of celestial mechanics. Consequently, we study the induced decay process and its dependence on the number of sites and condensed particles.
Tkachenko waves in rotating superfluid helium
Andereck, C.D.; Chalupa, J.; Glaberson, W.I.
The resonant response of a stack of disks driven into torsional oscillation within a container of rotating superfluid helium has been observed. It is shown that the oscillation modes excited are related to Tkachenko waves, that is, vortex displacement waves in the vortex array propagating in a direction transverse to the vortex lines. In particular, the resonances occur at peaks in the vortex wave density of states.
Vortex Reconnection in Normal and Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Koplik, Joel
An example of vortex reconnection is shown in a time sequence in Fig. 1, wherein two distinct vortex filaments in a fluid move together, merge, and then divide into two or more filaments moving away, with part of one initial filament connected to part of the other. The physics underlying this example [1] will be presented later, but the key feature is the evident change in the topology of the vortices. In this lecture, we will discuss vortex reconnection in both normal and superfluids, emphasizing the relevance of the process to their respective turbulent flows, the similarities between the two cases, and the computational issues. The lecture is aimed at a fairly general audience: no detailed knowledge of fluid mechanics is assumed beyond a nodding acquaintance with the Navier-Stokes equation, and nothing about superfluidity beyond the idea of a two-fluid system with an quantum-mechanically condensed component, and a willingness to accept the Gross-Pitaevskii model for the latter. My emp hasis will be on the superfluid case, and the reconnection process in normal fluids is discussed in more detail in the cited literature. My original work reviewed here was done in collaboration with Herbert Levine. Related and more recent work along these lines is described in the lectures by Adams and Roberts in this volume.
Superfluidity in topologically nontrivial flat bands
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Peotta, Sebastiano; Törmä, Päivi
Topological invariants built from the periodic Bloch functions characterize new phases of matter, such as topological insulators and topological superconductors. The most important topological invariant is the Chern number that explains the quantized conductance of the quantum Hall effect. Here we provide a general result for the superfluid weight Ds of a multiband superconductor that is applicable to topologically nontrivial bands with nonzero Chern number C. We find that the integral over the Brillouin-zone of the quantum metric, an invariant calculated from the Bloch functions, gives the superfluid weight in a flat band, with the bound Ds>=|C|. Thus, even a flat band can carry finite superfluid current, provided the Chern number is nonzero. As an example, we provide Ds for the time-reversal invariant attractive Harper-Hubbard model that can be experimentally tested in ultracold gases. In general, our results establish that a topologically nontrivial flat band is a promising concept for increasing the critical temperature of the superconducting transition.
Superfluidity in topologically nontrivial flat bands
Peotta, Sebastiano; Törmä, Päivi
Topological invariants built from the periodic Bloch functions characterize new phases of matter, such as topological insulators and topological superconductors. The most important topological invariant is the Chern number that explains the quantized conductance of the quantum Hall effect. Here we provide a general result for the superfluid weight Ds of a multiband superconductor that is applicable to topologically nontrivial bands with nonzero Chern number C. We find that the integral over the Brillouin-zone of the quantum metric, an invariant calculated from the Bloch functions, gives the superfluid weight in a flat band, with the bound Ds⩾|C|. Thus, even a flat band can carry finite superfluid current, provided the Chern number is nonzero. As an example, we provide Ds for the time-reversal invariant attractive Harper–Hubbard model that can be experimentally tested in ultracold gases. In general, our results establish that a topologically nontrivial flat band is a promising concept for increasing the critical temperature of the superconducting transition. PMID:26586543
Fermiâs Gamma-ray Burst Monitor detected 130 TGFs from August 2008 to the end of 2010. Thanks to instrument tweaks, the team has been able to improve the detection rate to several TGFs per week. ...
Generation of Dark-Bright Soliton Trains in Superfluid-Superfluid Counterflow
Hamner, C.; Chang, J. J.; Engels, P.; Hoefer, M. A.
The dynamics of two penetrating superfluids exhibit an intriguing variety of nonlinear effects. Using two distinguishable components of a Bose-Einstein condensate, we investigate the counterflow of two superfluids in a narrow channel. We present the first experimental observation of trains of dark-bright solitons generated by the counterflow. Our observations are theoretically interpreted by three-dimensional numerical simulations for the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations and the analysis of a jump in the two relatively flowing components' densities. Counterflow-induced modulational instability for this miscible system is identified as the central process in the dynamics.
Generation of dark-bright soliton trains in superfluid-superfluid counterflow.
Hamner, C; Chang, J J; Engels, P; Hoefer, M A
The dynamics of two penetrating superfluids exhibit an intriguing variety of nonlinear effects. Using two distinguishable components of a Bose-Einstein condensate, we investigate the counterflow of two superfluids in a narrow channel. We present the first experimental observation of trains of dark-bright solitons generated by the counterflow. Our observations are theoretically interpreted by three-dimensional numerical simulations for the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations and the analysis of a jump in the two relatively flowing components' densities. Counterflow-induced modulational instability for this miscible system is identified as the central process in the dynamics.
Interaction quenches of Fermi gases
Uhrig, Goetz S.
It is shown that the jump in the momentum distribution of Fermi gases evolves smoothly for small and intermediate times once an interaction between the fermions is suddenly switched on. The jump does not vanish abruptly. The loci in momentum space where the jumps occur are those of the noninteracting Fermi sea. No relaxation of the Fermi surface geometry takes place.
Model for overscreened Kondo effect in ultracold Fermi gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kuzmenko, I.; Kuzmenko, T.; Avishai, Y.; Kikoin, K.
The feasibility of realizing the overscreened Kondo effect in ultracold Fermi gas of atoms with spin s ≥ 3/2 in the presence of a localized magnetic impurity atom is proved realistic. Specifying (as a mere example) a system of ultracold 22Na Fermi gas and a trapped 6Li impurity, the mechanism of exchange interaction between the Na and Li atoms is elucidated and the exchange constant is found to be positive (antiferromagnetic). The corresponding exchange Hamiltonian is derived, and the Kondo temperature is estimated at the order of 500 nK. Within a weak-coupling renormalization group scheme, it is shown that the coupling renormalizes to the non-Fermi-liquid fixed point. An observable displaying multichannel features even in the weak-coupling regime is the impurity magnetization that is negative for T ≫TK and becomes positive with decreasing temperature.
Effective field theory and dispersion law of the phonons of a nonrelativistic superfluid
Escobedo, Miguel Angel; Manuel, Cristina
We study the recently proposed effective-field theory for the phonon of an arbitrary nonrelativistic superfluid. After computing the one-loop phonon self-energy, we obtain the low-temperature T contributions to the phonon dispersion law at low momentum and see that the real part of those can be parametrized as a thermal correction to the phonon velocity. Because the phonons are the quanta of the sound waves, at low momentum their velocity should agree with the speed of sound. We find that our results match at order T{sup 4}lnT with those predicted by Andreev and Khalatnikov for the speed of sound, derived from the superfluid hydrodynamical equations and the phonon kinetic theory. We get also higher-order corrections of order T{sup 4}, which are not reproduced pushing naively the kinetic theory computation. Finally, as an application, we consider the cold Fermi gas in the unitarity limit and find a universal expression for the low-T relative correction to the speed of sound for these systems.
Rotating superfluids in anharmonic traps: From vortex lattices to giant vortices
Correggi, Michele; Pinsker, Florian; Rougerie, Nicolas; Yngvason, Jakob
We study a superfluid in a rotating anharmonic trap and explicate a rigorous proof of a transition from a vortex lattice to a giant vortex state as the rotation is increased beyond a limiting speed determined by the interaction strength. The transition is characterized by the disappearance of the vortices from the annulus where the bulk of the superfluid is concentrated due to centrifugal forces while a macroscopic phase circulation remains. The analysis is carried out within two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii theory at large coupling constant and reveals significant differences between ''soft'' anharmonic traps (like a quartic plus quadratic trapping potential) and traps with a fixed boundary: in the latter case the transition takes place in a parameter regime where the size of vortices is very small relative to the width of the annulus, whereas in soft traps the vortex lattice persists until the width of the annulus becomes comparable to the vortex cores. Moreover, the density profile in the annulus where the bulk is concentrated is, in the soft case, approximately Gaussian with long tails and not of the Thomas-Fermi type like in a trap with a fixed boundary.
Nucleon spectral function at finite temperature and the onset of superfluidity in nuclear matter
Alm, T.; Roepke, G.; Schnell, A.; Kwong, N.H.; Koehler, H.S.
Nucleon self-energies and spectral functions are calculated at the saturation density of symmetric nuclear matter at finite temperatures. In particular, the behavior of these quantities at temperatures above and close to the critical temperature for the superfluid phase transition in nuclear matter is discussed. It is shown how the singularity in the thermodynamic {ital T} matrix at the critical temperature for superfluidity (Thouless criterion) reflects in the self-energy and correspondingly in the spectral function. The real part of the on-shell self-energy (optical potential) shows an anomalous behavior for momenta near the Fermi momentum and temperatures close to the critical temperature related to the pairing singularity in the imaginary part. For comparison the self-energy derived from the {ital K} matrix of Brueckner theory is also calculated. It is found that there is no pairing singularity in the imaginary part of the self-energy in this case, which is due to the neglect of hole-hole scattering in the {ital K} matrix. From the self-energy the spectral function and the occupation numbers for finite temperatures are calculated. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
BCS-BEC crossover of spin imbalanced Fermi gases with Rashba spin-orbit coupling
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Chang-Yan; He, Yan
We study the BCS-Bose Einstein Condensation (BEC) crossover of a three-dimensional spin polarized Fermi gas with Rashba spin-orbital coupling (SOC). At finite temperature, the effects of non-condensed pairs due to the thermal excitation are considered based on the G0 G pair fluctuation theory. These fluctuations generate a pseudogap even persistent above Tc. Within this framework, the Sarma state or the spin polarized superfluid state and polarized pseudogap state are explored in detail. The resulting Tc curves show that the enhancement of pairing due to the SOC roughly cancels out the suppression of pairing due to the population imbalance. Thus we observed that in a large portion of the parameter space, the polarized superfluid state are stabilized by the SOC.
R-Charged Black Hole and Holographic Superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Saadat, Hassan
In this paper we consider an interesting model of superfluid and use AdS/CFT correspondence to extract sound modes. We assume that dual picture of superfluid is the R-charged black hole with two equal charges. By using hydrodynamic variables of such a black hole we obtain first, second and fourth sound modes as a function of black hole charge.
Superfluid response of two-dimensional parahydrogen clusters in confinement
Idowu, Saheed; Boninsegni, Massimo
We study by computer simulations the effect of confinement on the superfluid properties of small two-dimensional (2D) parahydrogen clusters. For clusters of fewer than twenty molecules, the superfluid response in the low temperature limit is found to remain comparable in magnitude to that of free clusters, within a rather wide range of depth and size of the confining well. The resilience of the superfluid response is attributable to the "supersolid" character of these clusters. We investigate the possibility of establishing a bulk 2D superfluid "cluster crystal" phase of p-H{sub 2}, in which a global superfluid response would arise from tunnelling of molecules across adjacent unit cells. The computed energetics suggests that for clusters of about ten molecules, such a phase may be thermodynamically stable against the formation of the equilibrium insulating crystal, for values of the cluster crystal lattice constant possibly allowing tunnelling across adjacent unit cells.
Pinning down the superfluid and measuring masses using pulsar glitches
Ho, Wynn C. G.; Espinoza, Cristóbal M.; Antonopoulou, Danai; Andersson, Nils
Pulsars are known for their superb timing precision, although glitches can interrupt the regular timing behavior when the stars are young. These glitches are thought to be caused by interactions between normal and superfluid matter in the crust of the star. However, glitching pulsars such as Vela have been shown to require a superfluid reservoir that greatly exceeds that available in the crust. We examine a model in which glitches tap the superfluid in the core. We test a variety of theoretical superfluid models against the most recent glitch data and find that only one model can successfully explain up to 45 years of observational data. We develop a new technique for combining radio and x-ray data to measure pulsar masses, thereby demonstrating how current and future telescopes can probe fundamental physics such as superfluidity near nuclear saturation. PMID:26601293
Vortex structure in superfluid color-flavor locked quark matter
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Alford, Mark G.; Mallavarapu, S. Kumar; Vachaspati, Tanmay; Windisch, Andreas
The core region of a neutron star may feature quark matter in the color-flavor-locked (CFL) phase. The CFL condensate breaks the baryon number symmetry, such that the phenomenon of superfluidity arises. If the core of the star is rotating, vortices will form in the superfluid, carrying the quanta of angular momentum. In a previous study we have solved the question of stability of these vortices, where we found numerical proof of a conjectured instability, according to which superfluid vortices will decay into an arrangement of so-called semi-superfluid fluxtubes. Here we report first results of an extension of our framework that allows us to study multi-vortex dynamics. This will in turn enable us to investigate the structure of semi-superfluid string lattices, which could be relevant to study pinning phenomena at the boundary of the core.
Magnetic Domain Wall Floating on a Spin Superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Upadhyaya, Pramey; Kim, Se Kwon; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav
We theoretically investigate the transfer of angular momentum between a spin superfluid and a domain wall in an exchange coupled easy-axis and easy-plane magnetic insulator system. A domain wall in the easy-axis magnet absorbs spin angular momentum via disrupting the flow of a superfluid spin current in the easy-plane magnet. Focusing on an open geometry, where the spin current is injected electrically via a nonequilibrium spin accumulation, we derive analytical expressions for the resultant superfluid-mediated motion of the domain wall. The analytical results are supported by micromagnetic simulations. The proposed phenomenon extends the regime of magnon-driven domain-wall motion to the case where the magnons are condensed and exhibit superfluidity. Furthermore, by controlling the pinning of the domain wall, we propose a realization of a reconfigurable spin transistor. The long-distance dissipationless character of spin superfluids can thus be exploited for manipulating soliton-based memory and logic devices.
Pinning down the superfluid and measuring masses using pulsar glitches.
Ho, Wynn C G; Espinoza, Cristóbal M; Antonopoulou, Danai; Andersson, Nils
Pulsars are known for their superb timing precision, although glitches can interrupt the regular timing behavior when the stars are young. These glitches are thought to be caused by interactions between normal and superfluid matter in the crust of the star. However, glitching pulsars such as Vela have been shown to require a superfluid reservoir that greatly exceeds that available in the crust. We examine a model in which glitches tap the superfluid in the core. We test a variety of theoretical superfluid models against the most recent glitch data and find that only one model can successfully explain up to 45 years of observational data. We develop a new technique for combining radio and x-ray data to measure pulsar masses, thereby demonstrating how current and future telescopes can probe fundamental physics such as superfluidity near nuclear saturation.
Squeezing superfluid from a stone: Coupling superfluidity and elasticity in a supersolid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dorsey, Alan
Superfluidity---the ability of liquid ^4He, when cooled below 2.176 K, to flow without resistance through narrow pores---has long served as a paradigm for the phenomenon of ``off-diagonal long-range order'' (ODLRO) in quantum liquids and superconductors. Supersolidity---the coexistence of ODLRO with the crystalline order of a solid---was proposed theoretically over 35 years ago as an even more exotic phase of solid ^4He, but it has eluded detection. Recently, Kim and Chan [1,2] have reported an anomalous decoupling transition of solid ^4He in a torsional oscillator measurement, and interpret their results as evidence for non-classical rotational inertia and a possible supersolid phase of ^4He. In this talk I will give brief historical review of the theory of and experimental searches for supersolidity. I will then discuss a phenomenological Landau theory of the normal solid to supersolid (NS-SS) transition in which superfluidity is coupled to the elasticity of the crystalline ^4He lattice, and underscore the implications of this theory for experimental searches for supersolidity [3]. I will also discuss a hydrodynamic model for supersolids, in which the additional broken gauge symmetry in the supersolid phase produces a collective mode that is analogous to second sound in superfluid helium. [1] E. Kim and M. H. W. Chan, Nature (London) 427, 225 (2004). [2] E. Kim and M. H. W. Chan, Science 305, 1941 (2004). [3] A. T. Dorsey, P. M. Goldbart, and J. Toner, ``Squeezing superfluid from a stone: Coupling superfluidity and elasticity in a supersolid,'' Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 055301 (2006).
Superfluid Stirling refrigerator with a counterflow regenerator
Brisson, J.G.; Swift, G.W.
The superfluid Stirling refrigerator (SSR) uses a [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He liquid mixture as a working fluid. It operates at temperatures below 2 K where the [sup 4]He component of the working fluid is superfluid. The [sup 3]He component of the working fluid, to first approximation, behaves thermodynamically like an ideal gas in the inert background of superfluid [sup 4]He. Using pistons equipped with a superleak bypass, it is possible to expand and compress the [sup 3]He solute gas.'' The SSR is a Stirling machine equipped with these superleaked'' pistons to take advantage of the properties of the [sup 3]He solute to cool below 1 K. The proof of principle was shown by Kotsubo and Swift in 1990. There are three other techniques for cooling below 1 K: (1) the [sup 3]He-[sup 4]He dilution refrigerator which utilizes the endothermic heat of mixing of [sup 3]He into [sup 4]He to reach temperatures below 0.010 K; (2) the evaporation of [sup 3]He which can reach temperatures of 0.3 K; and, (3) adiabatic demagnetization of a paramagnetic salt. There are several advantages of the SSR over each of the other techniques. The power consumption of a dilution refrigerator is typically on the order of kilowatts; whereas, the SSR consumes hundreds of watts. The SSR has the potential to cool below 0.3 K and out-perform the evaporative [sup 3]He refrigerator. Adiabatic demagnetization often requires magnetic shielding between the refrigerator and the object to be cooled; obviously, the SSR requires no such shielding. There is an interest in developing subkelvin cryocoolers for satellite-borne X-ray and infrared detectors. In space applications, the power consumption of an SSR can be reduced to tens of watts. This coupled with the SSR's insensitivity to a zero G environment makes it an attractive option to cool detectors in space.
Vortices in rotating superfluid 3He.
Lounasmaa, O V; Thuneberg, E
In this review we first present an introduction to 3He and to the ROTA collaboration under which most of the knowledge on vortices in superfluid 3He has been obtained. In the physics part, we start from the exceptional properties of helium at millikelvin temperatures. The dilemma of rotating superfluids is presented. In 4He and in 3He-B the problem is solved by nucleating an array of singular vortex lines. Their experimental detection in 3He by NMR is described next. The vortex cores in 3He-B have two different structures, both of which have spontaneously broken symmetry. A spin-mass vortex has been identified as well. This object is characterized by a flow of spins around the vortex line, in addition to the usual mass current. A great variety of vortices exist in the A phase of 3He; they are either singular or continuous, and their structure can be a line or a sheet or fill the whole liquid. Altogether seven different types of vortices have been detected in 3He by NMR. We also describe briefly other experimental methods that have been used by ROTA scientists in studying vortices in 3He and some important results thus obtained. Finally, we discuss the possible applications of experiments and theory of 3He to particle physics and cosmology. In particular, we report on experiments where superfluid 3He-B was heated locally by absorption of single neutrons. The resulting events can be used to test theoretical models of the Big Bang at the beginning of our universe.
Temperature rise in superfluid helium pumps
Kittel, P.
The temperature rise of a fountain effect pump (FEP) and of a centrifugal pump (CP) are compared. Calculations and estimates presented here show that under the operating conditions expected during the resupply of superfluid helium in space, a centrifugal pump will produce a smaller temperature rise than will a fountain effect pump. The temperature rise for the FEP is calculated assuming an ideal pump, while the temperature rise of the CP is estimated from the measured performance of a prototype pump. As a result of this smaller temperature rise and of the different operating characteristics of the two types of pumps, transfers will be more effective using a centrifugal pump.
Quantum dynamics of a Bose superfluid vortex.
Thompson, L; Stamp, P C E
We derive a fully quantum-mechanical equation of motion for a vortex in a 2-dimensional Bose superfluid in the temperature regime where the normal fluid density ρ(n)(T) is small. The coupling between the vortex "zero mode" and the quasiparticles has no term linear in the quasiparticle variables--the lowest-order coupling is quadratic. We find that as a function of the dimensionless frequency Ω=ℏΩ/k(B)T, the standard Hall-Vinen-Iordanskii equations are valid when Ω≪1 (the "classical regime"), but elsewhere, the equations of motion become highly retarded, with significant experimental implications when Ω≳1.
The multiuniverse transition in superfluid 3He
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bunkov, Yury
The symmetry-breaking phase transitions of the universe and of superfluid 3He may lead to the formation of different states with different order parameters. In both cases the energy potential below the transition temperature has a complicated multidimensional profile with many local minima and saddle points, which correspond to different states. Consequently, not only topological defects, but also islands of different metastable states can be created. Using 3He we can analyse the properties and experimental consequences of such transitions and, in particular, the first-order phase transition between the two low symmetry states.
The multiuniverse transition in superfluid 3He.
Bunkov, Yury
The symmetry-breaking phase transitions of the universe and of superfluid (3)He may lead to the formation of different states with different order parameters. In both cases the energy potential below the transition temperature has a complicated multidimensional profile with many local minima and saddle points, which correspond to different states. Consequently, not only topological defects, but also islands of different metastable states can be created. Using (3)He we can analyse the properties and experimental consequences of such transitions and, in particular, the first-order phase transition between the two low symmetry states.
Temperature rise in superfluid helium pumps
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Kittel, Peter
The temperature rise of a fountain effect pump (FEP) and of a centrifugal pump (CP) are compared. Calculations and estimates presented here show that under the operating conditions expected during the resupply of superfluid helium in space, a centrifugal pump will produce a smaller temperature rise than will a fountain effect pump. The temperature rise for the FEP is calculated assuming an ideal pump, while the temperature rise of the CP is estimated from the measured performance of a prototype pump. As a result of this smaller temperature rise and of the different operating characteristics of the two types of pumps, transfers will be more effective using a centrifugal pump.
Surface Region of Superfluid Helium as an Inhomogeneous Bose-Condensed Gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Griffin, A.; Stringari, S.
We present arguments that the low density surface region of self-bounded superfluid 4He systems is an inhomogeneous dilute Bose gas, with almost all of the atoms occupying the same single-particle state at T = 0. Numerical evidence for this complete Bose-Einstein condensation was first given by the many-body variational calculations of 4He droplets by Lewart, Pandharipande, and Pieper in 1988 [Phys. Rev. B 37, 4950 (1988)]. We show that the low density surface region can be treated rigorously using a generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation for the Bose order parameter.
Anisotropic superfluidity of {sup 4}He on a C{sub 36} fullerene molecule
Park, Sungjin; Kim, Byeongjoon; Kwon, Yongkyung
We have performed path-integral Monte Carlo calculations to study the adsorption of {sup 4}He atoms on two different C{sub 36} isomers with the D{sub 6h} and the D{sub 2d} symmetries. The radial {sup 4}He density distributions reveal layer-by-layer growth with the first layer being located at a distance of ∼5.5 Å from the C{sub 36} molecular center and the second layer at ∼8.3 Å. From the angular density profiles of {sup 4}He, we find different quantum states as the number of {sup 4}He adatoms N varies. For N = 20, we observe commensurate solid structures on both D{sub 6h} and D{sub 2d} isomers, where each of 8 hexagon and 12 pentagon centers of the fullerene surfaces is occupied by a single {sup 4}He atom. The second-layer promotion starts beyond N = 38 on both isomers, where a compressible incommensurate structure is observed on the D{sub 6h} isomer and another commensurate structure on D{sub 2d}. Between N = 20 and N = 38, the {sup 4}He monolayer on D{sub 6h} shows several distinct rings of delocalized {sup 4}He atoms along with strongly anisotropic superfluid responses at low temperatures, while isotropic but weak superfluid responses are observed in the {sup 4}He layer on D{sub 2d}.
Local Observation of Pair Condensation in a Fermi Gas at Unitarity
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lingham, M. G.; Fenech, K.; Hoinka, S.; Vale, C. J.
We present measurements of the local (homogeneous) density-density response function of a Fermi gas at unitarity using spatially resolved Bragg spectroscopy. By analyzing the Bragg response across one axis of the cloud, we extract the response function for a uniform gas which shows a clear signature of the Bose-Einstein condensation of pairs of fermions when the local temperature drops below the superfluid transition temperature. The method we use for local measurement generalizes a scheme for obtaining the local pressure in a harmonically trapped cloud from the line density and can be adapted to provide any homogeneous parameter satisfying the local density approximation.
Phase diagrams of the Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model at finite temperature.
Mysakovych, T S
The phase transitions at finite temperatures in the systems described by the Bose-Fermi-Hubbard model are investigated in this work in the framework of the self-consistent random phase approximation. The case of the hard-core bosons is considered and the pseudospin formalism is used. The density-density correlator is calculated in the random phase approximation and the possibilities of transitions from superfluid to supersolid phases are investigated. It is shown that the transitions between uniform and charge-ordered phases can be of the second or the first order, depending on the system parameters.
From the Cooper problem to canted supersolids in Bose-Fermi mixtures.
Anders, Peter; Werner, Philipp; Troyer, Matthias; Sigrist, Manfred; Pollet, Lode
We calculate the phase diagram of the Bose-Fermi Hubbard model on the 3d cubic lattice at fermionic half filling and bosonic unit filling by means of single-site dynamical mean-field theory. For fast bosons, this is equivalent to the Cooper problem in which the bosons can induce s-wave pairing between the fermions. We also find miscible superfluid and canted supersolid phases depending on the interspecies coupling strength. In contrast, slow bosons favor fermionic charge density wave structures for attractive fermionic interactions. These competing instabilities lead to a rich phase diagram within reach of cold gas experiments.
Transport phenomena in correlated quantum liquids: Ultracold Fermi gases and F/N junctions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Li, Hua
Landau Fermi-liquid theory was first introduced by L. D. Landau in the effort of understanding the normal state of Fermi systems, where the application of the concept of elementary excitations to the Fermi systems has proved very fruitful in clarifying the physics of strongly correlated quantum systems at low temperatures. In this thesis, I use Landau Fermi-liquid theory to study the transport phenomena of two different correlated quantum liquids: the strongly interacting ultracold Fermi gases and the ferromagnet/normal-metal (F/N) junctions. The detailed work is presented in chapter II and chapter III of this thesis, respectively. Chapter I holds the introductory part and the background knowledge of this thesis. In chapter II, I study the transport properties of a Fermi gas with strong attractive interactions close to the unitary limit. In particular, I compute the transport lifetimes of the Fermi gas due to superfluid fluctuations above the BCS transition temperature Tc. To calculate the transport lifetimes I need the scattering amplitudes. The scattering amplitudes are dominated by the superfluid fluctuations at temperatures just above Tc. The normal scattering amplitudes are calculated from the Landau parameters. These Landau parameters are obtained from the local version of the induced interaction model for computing Landau parameters. I also calculate the leading order finite temperature corrections to the various transport lifetimes. A calculation of the spin diffusion coefficient is presented in comparison to the experimental findings. Upon choosing a proper value of F0a, I am able to present a good match between the theoretical result and the experimental measurement, which indicates the presence of the superfluid fluctuations near Tc. Calculations of the viscosity, the viscosity/entropy ratio and the thermal conductivity are also shown in support of the appearance of the superfluid fluctuations. In chapter III, I study the spin transport in the low
Enrico Fermi - And the Revolutions of Modern Physics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Cooper, Dan
In 1938, at the age of 37, Enrico Fermi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. That same year he emigrated from Italy to the United States and, in the course of his experiments, discovered nuclear fission--a process which forms the basis of nuclear power and atomic bombs. Soon the brilliant physicist was involved in the top secret race to produce the deadliest weapon on Earth. He created the first self-sustaining chain reaction, devised new methods for purifying plutonium, and eventually participated in the first atomic test. This compelling biography traces Fermis education in Italy, his meteoric career in the scientific world, his escape from fascism to America, and the ingenious experiments he devised and conducted at the University of Rome, Columbia University, and the Los Alamos laboratory. The book also presents a mini-course in quantum and nuclear physics in an accessible, fast-paced narrative that invokes all the dizzying passion of Fermis brilliant discoveries.
Dissipative processes in superfluid neutron stars
Mannarelli, Massimo; Colucci, Giuseppe; Manuel, Cristina
We present some results about a novel damping mechanism of r-mode oscillations in neutron stars due to processes that change the number of protons, neutrons and electrons. Deviations from equilibrium of the number densities of the various species lead to the appearance in the Euler equations of the system of a dissipative mechanism, the so-called rocket effect. The evolution of the r-mode oscillations of a rotating neutron star are influenced by the rocket effect and we present estimates of the corresponding damping timescales. In the description of the system we employ a two-fluid model, with one fluid consisting of all the charged components locked together by the electromagnetic interaction, while the second fluid consists of superfluid neutrons. Both components can oscillate however the rocket effect can only efficiently damp the countermoving r-mode oscillations, with the two fluids oscillating out of phase. In our analysis we include the mutual friction dissipative process between the neutron superfluid and the charged component. We neglect the interaction between the two r-mode oscillations as well as effects related with the crust of the star. Moreover, we use a simplified model of neutron star assuming a uniform mass distribution.
Superconductivity: from Electron Interaction to Nuclear Superfluidity
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pines, David
I present an expanded version of a talk given at the Urbana symposium that celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the microscopic theory of superconductivity by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer — BCS. I recall at some length, the work with my Ph.D. mentor, David Bohm, and my postdoctoral mentor, John Bardeen, on electron interaction in metals during the period 1948-55 that helped pave the way for BCS, describe the immediate impact of BCS on a small segment of the Princeton physics community in the early spring of 1957, and discuss the extent to which the Bardeen-Pines-Frohlich effective electron-electron interaction provided a criterion for superconductivity in the periodic system. I describe my lectures on BCS at Niels Bohr's Institute of Theoretical Physics in June 1957 that led to the proposal of nuclear superfluidity, discuss nuclear and cosmic superfluids briefly, and close with a tribute to John Bardeen, whose birth centennial we celebrated in 2008, and who was my mentor, close colleague, and dear friend.
Optical interferometry in superfluid {sup 3}He-B
Alles, H.; Ruutu, J.P.; Babkin, A.V.; Hakonen, P.J.; Sonin, E.B.
The authors report interferometric measurements in 0.1...1 mm thick films of superfluid {sup 3}He-B. The menisci of three different rotational states of the superfluid were observed and analyzed theoretically using two-fluid hydrodynamics: These are (i) the equilibrium vortex state in which the superfluid and the normal components corotate (solid body rotation), (ii) the vortex-free state (the Landau state), in which only the normal component rotates, and (iii) the quasistationary vortex state in which only the superfluid fraction rotates (pure superfluid rotation). The Landua state manifested itself by a reduced parabolic meniscus at rotation speeds below the critical angular velocity {Omega}{sub c}{approx_lt} 0.2 rad/s for vortex formation. Transition from the Landua state to the equilibrium vortex state yielded a sudden deepening of the meniscus when {Omega}{sub c} was exceeded. After a rapid halt of the cryostat, the authors observed a novel meniscus which was produced by the superfluid rotation while the normal component was at rest. The enhanced depth of this meniscus is governed by the reactive mutual friction parameter B{prime}. By employing laser light, both for imaging and for thermomechanical excitation, the authors measured the response of a thin superfluid layer to a heat pulse and analyzed it within the theory of two fluid hydrodynamics. The data were employed, using the dispersion relation for thin film oscillations, to deduce the second viscosity coefficient {zeta}{sub 3} close to T{sub c}.
Zero temperature holographic superfluids with two competing orders
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ran, Li; Tian, Yu; Zhang, Hongbao; Zhao, Junkun
We initiate the investigation of the zero temperature holographic superfluids with two competing orders, where besides the vacuum phase, two one component superfluid phases, the coexistent superfluid phase has also been found in the anti-de Sitter soliton background for the first time. We construct the complete phase diagram in the e - μ plane by numerics, which is consistent with our qualitative analysis. Furthermore, we calculate the corresponding optical conductivity and sound speed by the linear response theory. The onset of the pole of optical conductivity at ω =0 indicates that the spontaneous breaking phase always represents the superfluid phase, and the residue of the pole is increased with the chemical potential, which is consistent with the fact that the particle density is essentially the superfluid density for zero temperature superfluids. In addition, the resulting sound speed demonstrates the nonsmoothness at the critical points as the order parameter of the condensate, which indicates that the phase transitions can also be identified by the behavior of the sound speed. Moreover, as expected from the boundary conformal field theory, the sound speed saturates to 1/√{2 } at the large chemical potential limit for our two component holographic superfluid model.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sur, Shouvik; Lee, Sung-Sik
A non-Fermi liquid state without time-reversal and parity symmetries arises when a chiral Fermi surface is coupled with a soft collective mode in two space dimensions. The full Fermi surface is described by a direct sum of chiral patch theories, which are decoupled from each other in the low-energy limit. Each patch includes low-energy excitations near a set of points on the Fermi surface with a common tangent vector. General patch theories are classified by the local shape of the Fermi surface, the dispersion of the critical boson, and the symmetry group, which form the data for distinct universality classes. We prove that a large class of chiral non-Fermi liquid states exists as stable critical states of matter. For this, we use a renormalization group scheme where low-energy excitations of the Fermi surface are interpreted as a collection of (1+1)-dimensional chiral fermions with a continuous flavor labeling the momentum along the Fermi surface. Due to chirality, the Wilsonian effective action is strictly UV finite. This allows one to extract the exact scaling exponents although the theories flow to strongly interacting field theories at low energies. In general, the low-energy effective theory of the full Fermi surface includes patch theories of more than one universality classes. As a result, physical responses include multiple universal components at low temperatures. We also point out that, in quantum field theories with extended Fermi surface, a noncommutative structure naturally emerges between a coordinate and a momentum which are orthogonal to each other. We show that the invalidity of patch description for Fermi liquid states is tied with the presence of UV/IR mixing associated with the emergent noncommutativity. On the other hand, UV/IR mixing is suppressed in non-Fermi liquid states due to UV insensitivity, and the patch description is valid.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chen, Jing-Yuan; Son, Dam Thanh
We develop an extension of the Landau Fermi liquid theory to systems of interacting fermions with non-trivial Berry curvature. We propose a kinetic equation and a constitutive relation for the electromagnetic current that together encode the linear response of such systems to external electromagnetic perturbations, to leading and next-to-leading orders in the expansion over the frequency and wave number of the perturbations. We analyze the Feynman diagrams in a large class of interacting quantum field theories and show that, after summing up all orders in perturbation theory, the current-current correlator exactly matches with the result obtained from the kinetic theory.
Spin-Polarized Fermi Gases in 1D, 3D, and Crossover Regimes
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fry, Jacob A.; Revelle, Melissa C.; Olsen, Ben A.; Hulet, Randall G.
We report recent results on mapping the superfluid transition as a function of atomic interaction and global spin polarization in a two-component, 3D gas of fermionic lithium. The atomic interactions are controlled using a Feshbach resonance to tune between the strongly interacting BEC regime and the weakly interacting BCS regime. Previously, a 3D gas was found to have an unpolarized superfluid core that is enclosed by polarized shells. By applying a 2D optical lattice we confine our gas in one-dimensional tubes. In this 1D gas, in contrast to the 3D gas, we found a partially polarized superfluid core and either fully polarized or fully paired wings depending on the overall spin polarization. In the current experiment, we have mapped the phase diagram of the 1D/3D crossover by increasing the inter-tube coupling. The exotic superfluid state, FFLO, is predicted to occupy a large portion of the phase diagram in the crossover regime, making it an ideal location in parameter space for its detection. ARO, NSF, ONR, and The Welch Foundation.
Bragg spectroscopy of strongly interacting Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lingham, M. G.; Fenech, K.; Peppler, T.; Hoinka, S.; Dyke, P.; Hannaford, P.; Vale, C. J.
This article provides an overview of recent developments and emerging topics in the study of two-component Fermi gases using Bragg spectroscopy. Bragg scattering is achieved by exposing a gas to two intersecting laser beams with a slight frequency difference and measuring the momentum transferred to the atoms. By varying the Bragg laser detuning, it is possible to measure either the density or spin response functions which characterize the basic excitations present in the gas. Specifically, one can measure properties such as the dynamic and static structure factors, Tan's universal contact parameter and observe signatures for the onset of pair condensation locally within a gas.
Landau-Khalatnikov phonon damping in strongly interacting Fermi gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kurkjian, Hadrien; Castin, Yvan; Sinatra, Alice
We derive the phonon damping rate due to the four-phonon Landau-Khalatnikov process in low-temperature strongly interacting Fermi gases using quantum hydrodynamics, correcting and extending the original calculation of Landau and Khalatnikov (Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz., 19 (1949) 637). Our predictions can be tested in state-of-the-art experiments with cold atomic gases in the collisionless regime.
Chiral phases of superfluid 3He in an anisotropic medium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sauls, J. A.
Recent advances in the fabrication and characterization of anisotropic silica aerogels with exceptional homogeneity provide new insight into the nature of unconventional pairing in disordered anisotropic media. I report theoretical analysis and predictions for the equilibrium phases of superfluid 3He infused into a low-density, homogeneous uniaxial aerogel. Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory for a class of equal-spin-pairing (ESP) states in a medium with uniaxial anisotropy is developed and used to analyze recent experiments on uniaxially strained aerogels. For 3He in an axially "stretched" aerogel, GL theory predicts a transition from normal liquid into a chiral Anderson-Morel phase at Tc1 in which the chirality axis l̂ is aligned along the strain axis. This orbitally aligned state is protected from random fluctuations in the anisotropy direction, has a positive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) frequency shift, a sharp NMR resonance line, and is identified with the high-temperature ESP-1 phase of superfluid 3He in axially stretched aerogel. A second transition into a biaxial phase is predicted to onset at a slightly lower temperature Tc2
Superfluidity of a nonequilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate of polaritons
Wouters, Michiel; Savona, Vincenzo
We study theoretically superfluidity in a driven-dissipative Bose gas out of thermal equilibrium, and discuss the relation with conventional superfluids. We show how the superfluid behavior is characterized by a dramatic increase in the lifetime of a quantized vortex and point out the influence of the spatial geometry of the condensate. We apply our study to a condensate of polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity, whose properties can be directly inferred from optical spectroscopy. We propose three different experimental schemes to measure the vorticity of the polariton condensate.
Acquisition system testing with superfluid helium. [cryopumping for space
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Anderson, John E.; Fester, Dale A.; Dipirro, Michael J.
Minus one-g outflow tests were conducted with superfluid helium in conjunction with a thermomechanical pump setup in order to study the use of capillary acquisition systems for NASA's Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) flight experiment. Results show that both fine mesh screen and porous sponge systems are capable of supplying superfluid helium to the thermomechanical pump inlet against a one-g head up to 4 cm, fulfilling the SHOOT requirements. Sponge results were found to be reproducible, while the screen results were not.
Hydrodynamic spectrum of a superfluid in an elongated trap
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Crépin, Pierre-Philippe; Leyronas, Xavier; Chevy, Frédéric
In this article we study the hydrodynamic spectrum of a superfluid confined in cylindrical trap. We show that the dispersion relation ω(q) of the phonon branch scales like \\sqrt{q} at large q, leading to a vanishingly small superfluid critical velocity. In practice the critical velocity is set by the breakdown of the hydrodynamic approximation. For a broad class of superfluids, this entails a reduction of the critical velocity by a factor (\\hbarω_\\perp/μ_c)1/3 with respect to the free-space prediction (here ω_\\perp is the trapping frequency and μ_\\text{c} the chemical potential of the cloud).
Damping of superfluid flow by a thermal cloud.
Meppelink, R; Koller, S B; Vogels, J M; Stoof, H T C; van der Straten, P
One of the principal signatures of superfluidity is the frictionless flow of a superfluid through another substance. Here, we study the flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate through a thermal cloud and study its damping for different harmonic confinements and temperatures. The damping rates close to the collisionless regime are found to be in good agreement with Landau damping and become smaller for more homogeneous systems. In the hydrodynamic regime, we observe additional damping due to collisions, and we discuss the implications of these findings for superfluidity in this system.
Observation of a superfluid component within solid helium.
Lauter, H; Apaja, V; Kalinin, I; Kats, E; Koza, M; Krotscheck, E; Lauter, V V; Puchkov, A V
We demonstrate by neutron scattering that a localized superfluid component exists at high pressures within solid helium in aerogel. Its existence is deduced from the observation of two sharp phonon-roton spectra which are clearly distinguishable from modes in bulk superfluid helium. These roton excitations exhibit different roton gap parameters than the roton observed in the bulk fluid at freezing pressure. One of the roton modes disappears after annealing the samples. Comparison with theoretical calculations suggests that the model that reproduces the observed data best is that of superfluid double layers within the solid and at the helium-substrate interface.
Dai, Liang; Pajer, Enrico; Schmidt, Fabian E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fermi Normal Coordinates (FNC) are a useful frame for isolating the locally observable, physical effects of a long-wavelength spacetime perturbation. Their cosmological application, however, is hampered by the fact that they are only valid on scales much smaller than the horizon. We introduce a generalization that we call Conformal Fermi Coordinates (CFC). CFC preserve all the advantages of FNC, but in addition are valid outside the horizon. They allow us to calculate the coupling of long- and short-wavelength modes on all scales larger than the sound horizon of the cosmological fluid, starting from the epoch of inflation until today, by removing the complications of the second order Einstein equations to a large extent, and eliminating all gauge ambiguities. As an application, we present a calculation of the effect of long-wavelength tensor modes on small scale density fluctuations. We recover previous results, but clarify the physical content of the individual contributions in terms of locally measurable effects and ''projection'' terms.
Universal equation of state and pseudogap in the two-dimensional Fermi gas.
Bauer, Marianne; Parish, Meera M; Enss, Tilman
We determine the thermodynamic properties and the spectral function for a homogeneous two-dimensional Fermi gas in the normal state using the Luttinger-Ward, or self-consistent T-matrix, approach. The density equation of state deviates strongly from that of the ideal Fermi gas even for moderate interactions, and our calculations suggest that temperature has a pronounced effect on the pressure in the crossover from weak to strong coupling, consistent with recent experiments. We also compute the superfluid transition temperature for a finite system in the crossover region. There is a pronounced pseudogap regime above the transition temperature: the spectral function shows a Bogoliubov-like dispersion with backbending, and the density of states is significantly suppressed near the chemical potential. The contact density at low temperatures increases with interaction and compares well with both experiment and zero-temperature Monte Carlo results.
Superfluid helium-4 interferometers: construction and experiments
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Joshi, Aditya Ajit
This dissertation has two main goals: to highlight some new results in the field of superfluid 4He interferometry and to provide an in-depth, "hands-on" guide to the physics, design, construction, testing and operation of a continuously operating, fluxlocked 4 He dc-SHeQUID (Superfluid Helium Quantum Interference Device). Many of these topics haven't really been addressed in writing and the hapless new experimenter seeking to develop a SHeQUID is generally forced to reinvent the wheel rather than start at the frontier and push it forward. We would like to prevent that by making this a comprehensive guide to building and operating SHeQUIDs. We have optimized the fabrication of the nanoscale aperture arrays that are the very heart of the SHeQUID and resolved long-standing issues with their durability and long-term usability. A detailed report on this should assist in avoiding the many pitfalls that await those who fabricate and use these aperture arrays. We have constructed a new, modular SHeQUID that is designed to be easily adaptable to a wide array of proposed experiments without the necessity of rebuilding and reassembling key components like the displacement transducer. We have automated its working as a continuously operating, linearized (flux-locked) interferometer by using the so-called "chemical potential battery" in conjunction with a feedback system. We have also constructed a new reorientation system that is several orders of magnitude quieter than its predecessors. Together, these developments have allowed us to measure a changing rotation field in real time, a new development for this kind of device. We have also developed a module that allows control of the reorientation stage by automated data-taking software for investigating long-term drifts (by safely sweeping the stage back and forth). We have also investigated the chemical potential battery in further detail and report some fascinating nonlinear mode locking phenomena that have important
Single-particle spectral density of the unitary Fermi gas: Novel approach based on the operator product expansion, sum rules and the maximum entropy method
Gubler, Philipp; Yamamoto, Naoki; Hatsuda, Tetsuo; Nishida, Yusuke
Making use of the operator product expansion, we derive a general class of sum rules for the imaginary part of the single-particle self-energy of the unitary Fermi gas. The sum rules are analyzed numerically with the help of the maximum entropy method, which allows us to extract the single-particle spectral density as a function of both energy and momentum. These spectral densities contain basic information on the properties of the unitary Fermi gas, such as the dispersion relation and the superfluid pairing gap, for which we obtain reasonable agreement with the available results based on quantum Monte-Carlo simulations.
Stability of superfluid vortices in dense quark matter
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Alford, Mark G.; Mallavarapu, S. Kumar; Vachaspati, Tanmay; Windisch, Andreas
Superfluid vortices in the color-flavor-locked (CFL) phase of dense quark matter are known to be energetically disfavored relative to well-separated triplets of so-called semi-superfluid color flux tubes. However, the short-range interaction (metastable versus unstable) has not been established. In this paper we perform numerical calculations using the effective theory of the condensate field, mapping the regions in the parameter space of coupling constants where the vortices are metastable versus unstable. For the case of zero-gauge coupling we analytically identify a candidate for the unstable mode and show that it agrees well with the results of the numerical calculations. We find that in the region of the parameter space that seems likely to correspond to real-world CFL quark matter the vortices are unstable, indicating that if such matter exists in neutron star cores it is very likely to contain semi-superfluid color flux tubes rather than superfluid vortices.
Dislocation-induced superfluidity in a model supersolid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dasbiswas, Kinjal; Goswami, Debajit; Yoo, Chi-Deuk; Dorsey, Alan
The effect of an edge dislocation in inducing superfluidity is explored by coupling the elastic strain field of the dislocation to the superfluid density, and solving the corresponding Ginzburg-Landau theory. It is shown that superfluid density is induced along a single dislocation below a critical temperature determined by the ground state solution of a 2D Schr"odinger equation with a dipolar potential. This superfluid behavior can be described by a 1D Ginzburg-Landau equation obtained through a weakly nonlinear analysis. We then extend our analysis to a network of dislocation lines considered before by Shevchenko and Toner, which could serve as a model for superflow through solid ^4He. The effect of fluctuations and dynamics are included through a full time dependent Ginzburg-Landau theory.
A superfluid helium system for an LST IR experiment
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Breckenridge, R. W., Jr.; Moore, R. W., Jr.
The results are presented of a study program directed toward evaluating the problems associated with cooling an LST instrument to 2 K for a year by using superfluid helium as the cooling means. The results include the parametric analysis of systems using helium only, and systems using helium plus a shield cryogen. A baseline system, using helium only is described. The baseline system is sized for an instrument heat leak of 50 mw. It contains 71 Kg of superfluid helium and has a total, filled weight of 217 Kg. A brief assessment of the technical problems associated with a long life, spaceborne superfluid helium storage system is also made. It is concluded that a one year life, superfluid helium cooling system is feasible, pending experimental verification of a suitable low g vent system.
Phase diagram of 1D spin-orbit coupled Fermi gases in optical lattices
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Qu, Chunlei; Gong, Ming; Zhang, Chuanwei
We consider a one dimensional spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas in optical lattices with open boundary condition. This system belongs to the BDI symmetry class because the Hamiltonian can be made real when the Zeeman field is assumed to be along the z direction, thus the topological superfluid is characterized by Z, instead of Z2 class. In the optical lattice system, each site admits at most two fermions. The system can host plenty of phases depending on the filling factor and the Zeeman field. At finite Zeeman field we observe a strong competition between the topological superfluid phase and the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) phase. The latter phase is more likely to be observed near the half filling. The spin-orbit coupling plays the role of enhancing the topological superfluid phase and suppressing the FFLO phase, which the Hartree shift plays an utterly opposite role. The possible observation of topological phase is also discussed in the presence of a harmonic trap. This work is supported by ARO, AFOSR, and NSF
Superfluidity of grain boundaries and supersolid behavior
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Balibar, Sebastien
We have found that, at the liquid-solid equilibrium pressure Pm, supersolid behavior is due to the superfluidity of grain boundaries in solid helium [1]. After describing this experiment and reviewing some of the related theoretical work [2], we discuss the possibility that , at larger pressure (P > Pm), grain boundaries could also explain the supersolid behavior which was observed with torsional oscillators [3-6]. [1] S. Sasaki, R. Ishiguro, F. Caupin, H.J. Maris, and S. Balibar, Science 313, 1098 (2006)[2] E. Burovski, E. Kozik, A. Kuklov, N. Prokof'ev, and B. Svistunov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 165301 (2005)[3] E. Kim and M.H. Chan, Nature 427, 225 (2004)[4] E. Kim and M.H. Chan, Science 305, 1941 (2004)[5] A.S.C. Rittner and J.D. Reppy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 165301 (2006)[6] K. Shirahama, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 51, 302 (2006)
Geometric symmetries in superfluid vortex dynamics
Kozik, Evgeny; Svistunov, Boris
Dynamics of quantized vortex lines in a superfluid feature symmetries associated with the geometric character of the complex-valued field, w(z)=x(z)+iy(z), describing the instant shape of the line. Along with a natural set of Noether's constants of motion, which - apart from their rather specific expressions in terms of w(z) - are nothing but components of the total linear and angular momenta of the fluid, the geometric symmetry brings about crucial consequences for kinetics of distortion waves on the vortex lines, the Kelvin waves. It is the geometric symmetry that renders Kelvin-wave cascade local in the wave-number space. Similar considerations apply to other systems with purely geometric degrees of freedom.
Quench from Mott Insulator to Superfluid
Zurek, Wojciech H.; Dziarmaga, Jacek; Tylutki, Marek
We study a linear ramp of the nearest-neighbor tunneling rate in the Bose-Hubbard model driving the system from the Mott insulator state into the superfluid phase. We employ the truncated Wigner approximation to simulate linear quenches of a uniform system in 1...3 dimensions, and in a harmonic trap in 3 dimensions. In all these setups the excitation energy decays like one over third root of the quench time. The -1/3 scaling is explained by an impulse-adiabatic approximation - a variant of the Kibble-Zurek mechanism - describing a crossover from non-adiabatic to adiabatic evolution when the system begins to keep pace with the increasing tunneling rate.
Self-Ordered Limit Cycles, Chaos, and Phase Slippage with a Superfluid inside an Optical Resonator
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Piazza, Francesco; Ritsch, Helmut
We study dynamical phases of a driven Bose-Einstein condensate coupled to the light field of a high-Q optical cavity. For high field seeking atoms at red detuning the system is known to show a transition from a spatially homogeneous steady state to a self-ordered regular lattice exhibiting superradiant scattering into the cavity. For blue atom pump detuning the particles are repelled from the maxima of the light-induced optical potential suppressing scattering. We show that this generates a new dynamical instability of the self-ordered phase, leading to the appearance of self-ordered stable limit cycles characterized by large amplitude self-sustained oscillations of both the condensate density and cavity field. The limit cycles evolve into chaotic behavior by period doubling. Large amplitude oscillations of the condensate are accompanied by phase slippage through soliton nucleation at a rate that increases in the chaotic regime. Different from a superfluid in a closed setup, this driven dissipative superfluid is not destroyed by the proliferation of solitons since kinetic energy is removed through cavity losses.
The Fermi Paradox Is Neither Fermi's Nor a Paradox
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gray, Robert H.
The so-called Fermi paradox claims that if technological life existed anywhere else, we would see evidence of its visits to Earth-and since we do not, such life does not exist, or some special explanation is needed. Enrico Fermi, however, never published anything on this topic. On the one occasion he is known to have mentioned it, he asked 'where is everybody?'- apparently suggesting that we don't see extraterrestrials on Earth because interstellar travel may not be feasible, but not suggesting that intelligent extraterrestrial life does not exist, or suggesting its absence is paradoxical. The claim 'they are not here; therefore they do not exist' was first published by Michael Hart, claiming that interstellar travel and colonization of the galaxy would be inevitable if intelligent extraterrestrial life existed, and taking its absence here as proof that it does not exist anywhere. The Fermi paradox appears to originate in Hart's argument, not Fermi's question. Clarifying the origin of these ideas is important, because the Fermi paradox is seen by some as an authoritative objection to searching for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence-cited in the U. S. Congress as a reason for killing NASA's SETI program on one occasion-but evidence indicates that it misrepresents Fermi's views, misappropriates his authority, deprives the actual authors of credit, and is not a valid paradox. Keywords: Astrobiology, SETI, Fermi paradox, extraterrestrial life
Resonant tidal excitation of superfluid neutron stars in coalescing binaries
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yu, Hang; Weinberg, Nevin N.
We study the resonant tidal excitation of g modes in coalescing superfluid neutron star (NS) binaries and investigate how such tidal driving impacts the gravitational-wave (GW) signal of the inspiral. Previous studies of this type treated the NS core as a normal fluid and thus did not account for its expected superfluidity. The source of buoyancy that supports the g modes is fundamentally different in the two cases: in a normal fluid core, the buoyancy is due to gradients in the proton-to-neutron fraction, whereas in a superfluid core it is due to gradients in the muon-to-electron fraction. The latter yields a stronger stratification and a superfluid NS therefore has a denser spectrum of g modes with frequencies above 10 Hz. As a result, many more g modes undergo resonant tidal excitation as the binary sweeps through the bandwidth of GW detectors such as LIGO. We find that ≃ 10 times more orbital energy is transferred into g-mode oscillations if the NS has a superfluid core rather than a normal fluid core. However, because this energy is transferred later in the inspiral when the orbital decay is faster, the accumulated phase error in the gravitational waveform is comparable for a superfluid and a normal fluid NS (˜10-3-10-2rad). A phase error of this magnitude is too small to be measured from a single event with the current generation of GW detectors.
Resonant tidal excitation of superfluid neutron stars in coalescing binaries
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yu, Hang; Weinberg, Nevin
We study the resonant tidal excitation of g-modes in coalescing superfluid neutron star (NS) binaries and investigate how such tidal driving impacts the gravitational-wave signal of the inspiral. Previous studies treated the NS core as a normal fluid and did not account for its superfluidity. The source of buoyancy that supports the g-modes is fundamentally different in the two cases: in a normal fluid core the buoyancy is due to gradients in the proton-to-neutron fraction whereas in a superfluid core it is due to gradients in the muon-to-electron (or hyperon) fraction. The latter yields a stronger stratification and a superfluid NS has a denser spectrum of g-modes. As a result, many more g-modes undergo resonant tidal excitation during the inspiral. We find that = 10 times more orbital energy is transferred into g-mode oscillations if the NS has a superfluid core rather than a normal fluid core. However, because this energy is transferred later in the inspiral when the orbital decay is faster, the accumulated phase error in the gravitational waveform is comparable for a superfluid and normal fluid NS ( 10-3 -10-2rad). A phase error of this magnitude is too small to be measured with the current generation of gravitational wave detectors.
Momentum sharing in imbalanced Fermi systems
Hen, O.; Sargsian, M.; Weinstein, L. B.; ...
The atomic nucleus is composed of two different kinds of fermions, protons and neutrons. If the protons and neutrons did not interact, the Pauli exclusion principle would force the majority fermions (usually neutrons) to have a higher average momentum. Our high-energy electron scattering measurements using 12C, 27Al, 56Fe and 208Pb targets show that, even in heavy neutron-rich nuclei, short-range interactions between the fermions form correlated high-momentum neutron-proton pairs. Thus, in neutron-rich nuclei, protons have a greater probability than neutrons to have momentum greater than the Fermi momentum. This finding has implications ranging from nuclear few body systems to neutron starsmore » and may also be observable experimentally in two-spin state, ultra-cold atomic gas systems.« less
Momentum sharing in imbalanced Fermi systems
Hen, O.; Sargsian, M.; Weinstein, L. B.; Piasetzky, E.
The atomic nucleus is composed of two different kinds of fermions, protons and neutrons. If the protons and neutrons did not interact, the Pauli exclusion principle would force the majority fermions (usually neutrons) to have a higher average momentum. Our high-energy electron scattering measurements using 12C, 27Al, 56Fe and 208Pb targets show that, even in heavy neutron-rich nuclei, short-range interactions between the fermions form correlated high-momentum neutron-proton pairs. Thus, in neutron-rich nuclei, protons have a greater probability than neutrons to have momentum greater than the Fermi momentum. This finding has implications ranging from nuclear few body systems to neutron stars and may also be observable experimentally in two-spin state, ultra-cold atomic gas systems.
Strongly Interacting Fermi Gases: Current Issues and Future Prospects
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ho, Tin-Lun Jason
There has been rapid development in the study of interacting atomic Fermi gases last year. In this talk, I shall discuss the issues brought forth by current experiments with regard to the nature of the newly found pair condensate, the universal thermodynamic and dynamical features in strongly interacting regime, and new methods of probing strongly interacting physics not possible in solid state environment. In the last part of the talk, I shall discuss the exciting theoretical possibilities associating with the latest experimental progress on producing molecules with higher orbital angular momentum, and on strongly interacting Fermi gases in optical lattices. In collaboration with Roberto Diener.
Superfluid Reynolds number and the transition from potential flow to turbulence in superfluid 4He at millikelvin temperatures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Schoepe, W.
This comment is on Phys. Rev. Lett. 144, 155302 (2015) by M.T. Reeves, T.P. Billam, B.P. Anderson, and A.S. Bradley "Identifying a superfluid Reynolds number via dynamical similarity" where a new superfluid Reynolds number is introduced. This definition is shown to be useful in the data analysis of the finite lifetime of turbulence observed with an oscillating sphere in superfluid helium at mK temperatures in a small velocity interval Δ v = ( v-v c ) just above the critical velocity v c . The very rapid increase in the lifetime with increasing superfluid Reynolds number is compared with the "supertransient" turbulence observed in classical pipe flow.
Quantum phases and transitions of many-body systems realized using cold atomic gases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Powell, Stephen Christopher
In recent years, new advances in techniques for trapping and cooling atoms have allowed the production of atomic gases at low-enough temperatures and high-enough densities for collective quantum-mechanical effects to become important. This thesis describes theoretical investigations of certain many-body physics problems motivated by these experimental developments. It consists of two main parts. In the first, I investigate the array of phases exhibited by degenerate mixtures of bosons and fermions with a Feshbach resonance, a bound molecular state whose energy can be tuned with a magnetic field. These phases are distinguished by the presence or absence of a bosonic condensate and also by the different Luttinger constraints that are shown to apply to the Fermi surface(s). The second part is concerned with bosons in an optical lattice, in which a periodic potential is produced by counterpropagating lasers. Spinless bosons are known to exhibit a quantum phase transition between a Mott insulator and a superfluid state, while bosons with spin have a much richer phase structure. I consider, in particular, a phase transition with a spinless order parameter, and show that the long-time dynamics of spin-carrying excitations is governed by a nontrivial fixed point. The corresponding anomalous exponents are found using a renormalization-group calculation.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sur, Shouvik; Lee, Sung-Sik
We study non-Fermi-liquid states that arise at the quantum critical points associated with the spin density wave (SDW) and charge density wave (CDW) transitions in metals with twofold rotational symmetry. We use the dimensional regularization scheme, where a one-dimensional Fermi surface is embedded in (3 -ɛ ) -dimensional momentum space. In three dimensions, quasilocal marginal Fermi liquids arise both at the SDW and CDW critical points: the speed of the collective mode along the ordering wave vector is logarithmically renormalized to zero compared to that of Fermi velocity. Below three dimensions, however, the SDW and CDW critical points exhibit drastically different behaviors. At the SDW critical point, a stable anisotropic non-Fermi-liquid state is realized for small ɛ , where not only time but also different spatial coordinates develop distinct anomalous dimensions. The non-Fermi liquid exhibits an emergent algebraic nesting as the patches of Fermi surface are deformed into a universal power-law shape near the hot spots. Due to the anisotropic scaling, the energy of incoherent spin fluctuations disperse with different power laws in different momentum directions. At the CDW critical point, on the other hand, the perturbative expansion breaks down immediately below three dimensions as the interaction renormalizes the speed of charge fluctuations to zero within a finite renormalization group scale through a two-loop effect. The difference originates from the fact that the vertex correction antiscreens the coupling at the SDW critical point whereas it screens at the CDW critical point.
Correlations in the low-density Fermi gas: Fermi-liquid state, dimerization, and Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer pairing
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fan, H. H.; Krotscheck, E.; Lichtenegger, T.; Mateo, D.; Zillich, R. E.
We present ground-state calculations for low-density Fermi gases described by two model interactions, an attractive square-well potential and a Lennard-Jones potential, of varying strength. We use the optimized Fermi-hypernetted chain integral equation method, which has been proved to provide, in the density regimes of interest here, an accuracy of better than 1%. We first examine the low-density expansion of the energy and compare it with the exact answer of H. Huang and C. N. Yang [Phys. Rev. 105, 767 (1957), 10.1103/PhysRev.105.767]. It is shown that a locally correlated wave function of the Jastrow-Feenberg type does not recover the quadratic term in the expansion of the energy in powers of a0kF , where a0 is the vacuum s -wave scattering length and kF the Fermi wave number. The problem is cured by adding second-order perturbation corrections in a correlated basis. Going to higher densities and/or more strongly coupled systems, we encounter an instability of the normal state of the system which is characterized by a divergence of the in-medium scattering length. We interpret this divergence as a phonon-exchange-driven dimerization of the system, similar to what occurs at zero density when the vacuum scattering length a0 diverges. We then study, in the stable regime, the superfluid gap and its dependence on the density and the interaction strength. We identify two corrections to low-density expansions: One is medium corrections to the pairing interaction, and the other is finite-range corrections. We show that the most important finite-range corrections are a direct manifestation of the many-body nature of the system.
Argon Nanoclusters with Fivefold Symmetry in Supersonic Gas Jets and Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Danylchenko, O. G.; Boltnev, R. E.; Khmelenko, V. V.; Kiryukhin, V.; Konotop, O. P.; Lee, D. M.; Krainyukova, N. V.
In this study argon nanoclusters (800 to ˜ 6500 atoms) formed in supersonic gas jets are compared to the nanoclusters stabilized in superfluid helium. High-energy electron and X-ray diffraction methods are utilized. Both techniques allow investigation of isolated clusters. It is shown that the theoretical prediction of the so-called multiply twinned particles with fivefold symmetry, such as icosahedra (ico) and decahedra (dec) is valid in the investigated cluster size interval. Around the point of the expected ico-to-dec size-dependent transformation at a cluster size of ˜ 2000 atoms, hexagonal ico and the statistical distribution of structures with a tendency for dec to replace ico are observed. Kinetic reasons, as well as temperature-related effects, could be responsible for the latter observations.
High-temperature superfluidity with indirect excitons in van der Waals heterostructures.
Fogler, M M; Butov, L V; Novoselov, K S
All known superfluid and superconducting states of condensed matter are enabled by composite bosons (atoms, molecules and Cooper pairs) made of an even number of fermions. Temperatures where such macroscopic quantum phenomena occur are limited by the lesser of the binding energy and the degeneracy temperature of the bosons. High-critical temperature cuprate superconductors set the present record of ~100 K. Here we propose a design for artificially structured materials to rival this record. The main elements of the structure are two monolayers of a transition metal dichalcogenide separated by an atomically thin spacer. Electrons and holes generated in the system would accumulate in the opposite monolayers and form bosonic bound states--the indirect excitons. The resultant degenerate Bose gas of indirect excitons would exhibit macroscopic occupation of a quantum state and vanishing viscosity at high temperatures.
High-temperature superfluidity with indirect excitons in van der Waals heterostructures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fogler, M. M.; Butov, L. V.; Novoselov, K. S.
All known superfluid and superconducting states of condensed matter are enabled by composite bosons (atoms, molecules and Cooper pairs) made of an even number of fermions. Temperatures where such macroscopic quantum phenomena occur are limited by the lesser of the binding energy and the degeneracy temperature of the bosons. High-critical temperature cuprate superconductors set the present record of ~100 K. Here we propose a design for artificially structured materials to rival this record. The main elements of the structure are two monolayers of a transition metal dichalcogenide separated by an atomically thin spacer. Electrons and holes generated in the system would accumulate in the opposite monolayers and form bosonic bound states—the indirect excitons. The resultant degenerate Bose gas of indirect excitons would exhibit macroscopic occupation of a quantum state and vanishing viscosity at high temperatures.
Effect of disorder on the superfluid transition in two-dimensional systems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Balabanyan, Karén G.
In recent experiments on thin He4 films absorbed to rough surfaces Luhman and Hallock [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 086106 (2004)] attempted to observe Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) features of the superfluid-normal transition of this strongly disordered two-dimensional (2D) bosonic system. It came as a surprise that while peak of dissipation was measured for a wide range of surface roughness there were no indications of the theoretically expected universal jump of the areal superfluid density for the strongly disordered samples. We test the hypothesis that this unusual behavior is a manifestation of finite-size effects by numerical study of the corresponding 2D bosonic model with strong diagonal disorder. We demonstrate that the discontinuous features of the underlying KT transition are severely smoothed out for finite system sizes (or finite frequency measurements). We resolve the universal discontinuity of the areal superfluid density by fitting our data to the KT renormalization group equations for finite systems. In analogy to our simulations, we suggest that in experiments on strongly disordered 2D bosonic systems the very existence of the KT scenario can and should be revealed only from a proper finite-size scaling of the data (for He4 films finite-size scaling can be effectively controlled by the scaling of finite frequency of measurements). We also show relevance of our conclusions for a wider class of systems, such as superconducting granular films, Josephson junction arrays, and ultracold atomic gases, where similar difficulties appear in experiments designed to verify KT transition (especially in disordered cases).
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Maccone, C.
In this paper is provided the statistical generalization of the Fermi paradox. The statistics of habitable planets may be based on a set of ten (and possibly more) astrobiological requirements first pointed out by Stephen H. Dole in his book Habitable planets for man (1964). The statistical generalization of the original and by now too simplistic Dole equation is provided by replacing a product of ten positive numbers by the product of ten positive random variables. This is denoted the SEH, an acronym standing for "Statistical Equation for Habitables". The proof in this paper is based on the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) of Statistics, stating that the sum of any number of independent random variables, each of which may be ARBITRARILY distributed, approaches a Gaussian (i.e. normal) random variable (Lyapunov form of the CLT). It is then shown that: 1. The new random variable NHab, yielding the number of habitables (i.e. habitable planets) in the Galaxy, follows the log- normal distribution. By construction, the mean value of this log-normal distribution is the total number of habitable planets as given by the statistical Dole equation. 2. The ten (or more) astrobiological factors are now positive random variables. The probability distribution of each random variable may be arbitrary. The CLT in the so-called Lyapunov or Lindeberg forms (that both do not assume the factors to be identically distributed) allows for that. In other words, the CLT "translates" into the SEH by allowing an arbitrary probability distribution for each factor. This is both astrobiologically realistic and useful for any further investigations. 3. By applying the SEH it is shown that the (average) distance between any two nearby habitable planets in the Galaxy may be shown to be inversely proportional to the cubic root of NHab. This distance is denoted by new random variable D. The relevant probability density function is derived, which was named the "Maccone distribution" by Paul Davies in
The fermi paradox is neither Fermi's nor a paradox.
Gray, Robert H
The so-called Fermi paradox claims that if technological life existed anywhere else, we would see evidence of its visits to Earth--and since we do not, such life does not exist, or some special explanation is needed. Enrico Fermi, however, never published anything on this topic. On the one occasion he is known to have mentioned it, he asked "Where is everybody?"--apparently suggesting that we do not see extraterrestrials on Earth because interstellar travel may not be feasible, but not suggesting that intelligent extraterrestrial life does not exist or suggesting its absence is paradoxical. The claim "they are not here; therefore they do not exist" was first published by Michael Hart, claiming that interstellar travel and colonization of the Galaxy would be inevitable if intelligent extraterrestrial life existed, and taking its absence here as proof that it does not exist anywhere. The Fermi paradox appears to originate in Hart's argument, not Fermi's question. Clarifying the origin of these ideas is important, because the Fermi paradox is seen by some as an authoritative objection to searching for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence--cited in the U.S. Congress as a reason for killing NASA's SETI program on one occasion. But evidence indicates that it misrepresents Fermi's views, misappropriates his authority, deprives the actual authors of credit, and is not a valid paradox.
Fermi's New Pulsar Detection Technique
To locate a pulsar in Fermi LAT data requires knowledge of the objectâs sky position, its pulse period, and how the pulse rate slows over time. Computers check many different combinations of posi...
Modeling and Commissioning of a Cold Compressor String for the Superfluid Cryogenic Plant at Fermilab's Cryo-module Test Facility
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ueresin, C.; Decker, L.; Treite, P.
In 2011, Linde Cryogenics, a division of Linde Process Plants, Tulsa, Oklahoma, was awarded the contract to deliver a 500 W at 2 K superfluid cryogenic plant to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) in Batavia, Illinois, USA. This system includes a cold compressor string with three centrifugal compressors and a vacuum pump skid with five volumetric pumps in parallel used to pump down helium to its saturation pressure corresponding to 2 K. Linde Kryotechnik AG, Pfungen Switzerland engineered and supplied the cold compressor system and commissioned it with its control logic to cover the complete range of system operation. The paper outlines issues regarding compressor design, compressor string modeling, control algorithms, controller performance, and surge protection.
The Landau level-superfluid modified factor and the overal soft X/ γ-ray efficiency coefficient of a magnetar
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gao, Z. F.; Peng, Q. H.; Wang, N.; Chou, C. K.; Huo, W. S.
As soon as the energies of electrons near the Fermi surface exceed Q, the threshold energy of inverse β-decay, electron capture (EC) dominates inside a neutron star. The high-energy neutrons released by EC will destroy anisotropic 3 P 2 neutron Cooper pairs in the degenerate superfluid. By colliding with the neutrons produced in the process n+( n↑ n↓)→ n+ n+ n, the kinetic energies of the neutrons released by EC will be transformed into thermal energy. A portion of this thermal energy will be transported from the star interior to the star surface by conduction, then converted to a thermal spectrum of soft X-rays and γ-rays. By introducing two important parameters: the Landau level-superfluid modified factor and the overal soft X/ γ-ray efficiency coefficient, we compute the theoretical luminosity L X of a magnetar under our model and plot a diagram of L X as a function of magnetic field strength B. Numerical calculations based on our model agree well with the observed properties of magnetar candidates.
Shear viscosity to entropy density ratios and implications for (im)perfect fluidity in Fermionic and Bosonic superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Boyack, Rufus; Guo, Hao; Levin, K.
Recent experiments on both unitary Fermi gases and high temperature superconductors (arxiv:1410.4835 [cond-mat.quant-gas], arxiv:1409.5820 [cond-mat.str-el].) have led to renewed interest in near perfect fluidity in condensed matter systems. This is quantified by studying the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density. In this talk we present calculations of this ratio in homogeneous bosonic and fermionic superfluids, with the latter ranging from BCS to BEC. While the shear viscosity exhibits a power law (for bosons) or exponential suppression (for fermions), a similar dependence is found for the respective entropy densities. As a result, strict BCS and (true) bosonic superfluids have an analogous viscosity to entropy density ratio, behaving linearly with temperature times the (T-dependent) dissipation rate; this is characteristic of imperfect fluidity in weakly coupled fluids. This is contrasted with the behavior of fermions at unitarity which we argue is a consequence of additional terms in the entropy density thereby leading to more perfect fluidity. (arXiv:1407.7572v1 [cond-mat.quant-gas])
Quantum Oscillations from Fermi Arcs
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pereg-Barnea, Tamar; Refael, Gil; Franz, Marcel; Weber, Heidi; Seradjeh, Babak
Recent experiments[1] in a variety of High Tc superconductors revel 1/B oscillations in the vortex-liquid state. The period of oscillations in underdoped samples is short and can be translated, via the Onsager relation to an area in k-space which makes up a few percents of the Brillouin zone. Quantum oscillations are usually thought of as arising from closed orbits in momentum space along the Fermi surface and are used to measure the Fermi vector. Thus, the observation of quantum oscillations in the cuprates seems to be at odds with the observation of Fermi arcs in ARPES experiments[2] due to their fragmented Fermi surface topology. In this talk we show that quantum oscillations can arise from a partially gapped Fermi surface. We adopt a phenomenological model of arcs which terminate at a regime with a superconducting gap of d-wave symmetry to describe the pseudo gap phase. Without invoking any additional order, quantization of energy is found well below the gap maximum. Semiclassically the quantization condition arises from closed orbits in real-space. When translated to momentum space, the area enclosed by the orbits is much smaller than that of the full Fermi surface. [1]N. Doiron-Leyaraud et al. nature 447, 565 (2007) [2]Kanigel et al. Nature Physics 2 447 (2006)
r-Modes of Neutron Stars with Superfluid Cores
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lee, Umin; Yoshida, Shijun
We investigate the modal properties of the r-modes of rotating neutron stars with the core filled with neutron and proton superfluids, taking account of entrainment effects between the superfluids. The stability of the r-modes against gravitational radiation reaction is also examined considering viscous dissipation due to shear and a damping mechanism called ``mutual friction'' between the superfluids in the core. We find that the r-modes in the superfluid core are split into ordinary r-modes and superfluid r-modes, which we call, respectively, ro- and rs-modes. The two superfluids in the core flow together for the ro-modes, while they countermove for the rs-modes. For the ro-modes, the coefficient κ0≡limΩ-->0ω/Ω is equal to 2m/[l'(l'+1)], almost independent of the parameter η that parameterizes the entrainment effects between the superfluids, where Ω is the angular frequency of rotation, ω is the oscillation frequency observed in the corotating frame of the star, and l' and m are the indices of the spherical harmonic function representing the angular dependence of the r-modes. For the rs-modes, on the other hand, κ0 is equal to 2m/[l'(l'+1)] at η=0 (no entrainment), and it almost linearly increases as η is increased from η=0. The ro-modes, for which w'≡v'p- v'n~Ω3, correspond to the r-modes discussed by L. Lindblom & G. Mendell, where v'n and v'p are the Eulerian velocity perturbations of the neutron and proton superfluids, respectively. The mutual friction in the superfluid core is found ineffective to stabilize the r-mode instability caused by the ro-mode except in a few narrow regions of η. The r-mode instability caused by the rs-modes, on the other hand, is extremely weak and easily damped by dissipative processes in the star.
Liquid acquisition devices for superfluid helium transfer
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Dipirro, M. J.
To transfer superfluid helium (He II) in the milli-g or micro-g environment in orbit, it is necessary to provide a reasonably steady supply of liquid to the inlet of the pump in the supply dewar. To accomplish this without providing an artificial gravity through acceleration requires a liquid acquisition device. Fluid swirl and electrostatic devices have been proposed to orientate the fluid. However, the simplest mechanisms appear to be the use of surface tension or the thermomechanical effect. This paper examines four concepts for providing He II to the inlet of a thermomechanical pump. The devices are a distributed thermomechanical pump, a distributed pump with a main thermomechanical pump, a screened channel system and a vane/sponge combination. Calculations on the efficiency of these types of liquid acquisition devices are made using laboratory data from tests involving small scale devices where applicable. These calculations show that the latter two types of liquid acquisition devices are the most efficient. Questions as to the probability of cavitation and the effect of the residual shuttle acceleration on their operation remain to be answered, however.
Magnetars: super(ficially) hot and super(fluid) cool
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ho, Wynn C. G.; Glampedakis, Kostas; Andersson, Nils
We examine to what extent the inferred surface temperature of magnetars in quiescence can constrain the presence of a superfluid in the neutron star core and the role of magnetic field decay in the core. By performing detailed simulations of neutron star cooling, we show that extremely strong heating from field decay in the core cannot produce the high observed surface temperatures nor delay the onset of neutron superfluidity in the core. We verify the results of Kaminker et al., namely that the high magnetar surface temperatures require heating in the neutron star crust, and crust heating is decoupled from cooling/heating in the core. Therefore, because crust heating masks core heating, it is not possible to conclude that magnetar cores are in a non-superfluid state purely from high surface temperatures. From our interior temperature evolutions and after accounting for proton superconductivity in the core, we find that neutron superfluidity in the core occurs less than a few hundred years after neutron star formation. This onset time is unaffected by heating due to core field decay at fields ≲1016 G. Thus all known neutron stars, including magnetars, without a core containing exotic particles, should have a core of superfluid neutrons and superconducting protons.
Thermal and Quantum Mechanical Noise of a Superfluid Gyroscope
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Chui, Talso; Penanen, Konstantin
A potential application of a superfluid gyroscope is for real-time measurements of the small variations in the rotational speed of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Such rotational jitter, if not measured and corrected for, will be a limiting factor on the resolution potential of a GPS system. This limitation will prevent many automation concepts in navigation, construction, and biomedical examination from being realized. We present the calculation of thermal and quantum-mechanical phase noise across the Josephson junction of a superfluid gyroscope. This allows us to derive the fundamental limits on the performance of a superfluid gyroscope. We show that the fundamental limit on real-time GPS due to rotational jitter can be reduced to well below 1 millimeter/day. Other limitations and their potential mitigation will also be discussed.
Quantum Hall superfluids in topological insulator thin films.
Tilahun, Dagim; Lee, Byounghak; Hankiewicz, E M; MacDonald, A H
Three-dimensional topological insulators have protected Dirac-cone surface states. In this Letter we argue that gapped excitonic superfluids with spontaneous coherence between top and bottom surfaces can occur in the topological insulator (TI)-thin-film quantum Hall regime. We find that the large dielectric constants of TI materials increase the layer separation range over which coherence survives and decrease the superfluid sound velocity, but have little influence on the superfluid density or on the charge gap. The coherent state at total Landau-level filling factor νT=0 is predicted to be free of edge modes, qualitatively altering its transport phenomenology compared to the widely studied case of νT=1 in GaAs double-quantum wells.
Holographic p-wave superfluid in Gauss-Bonnet gravity
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Shancheng; Pan, Qiyuan; Jing, Jiliang
We construct the holographic p-wave superfluid in Gauss-Bonnet gravity via a Maxwell complex vector field model and investigate the effect of the curvature correction on the superfluid phase transition in the probe limit. We obtain the rich phase structure and find that the higher curvature correction hinders the condensate of the vector field but makes it easier for the appearance of translating point from the second-order transition to the first-order one or for the emergence of the Cave of Winds. Moreover, for the supercurrents versus the superfluid velocity, we observe that our results near the critical temperature are independent of the Gauss-Bonnet parameter and agree well with the Ginzburg-Landau prediction.
Global string and vortex superfluids in a supersymmetric scenario
Ferreira, C. N.; Ney, W. G.; Helayeel-Neto, J. A.
The main goal of this work is to investigate the possibility of finding the supersymmetric version of the U(1)-global string model which behaves as a vortex-superfluid. To describe the superfluid phase, we introduce a Lorentz-symmetry breaking background that, in an approach based on supersymmetry, leads to a discussion on the relation between the violation of Lorentz symmetry and explicit soft supersymmetry breakings. We also study the relation between the string configuration and the vortex-superfluid phase. In the framework we settle down in terms of superspace and superfields, we actually establish a duality between the vortex degrees of freedom and the component fields of the Kalb-Ramond superfield. We make also considerations about the fermionic excitations that may appear in connection with the vortex formation.
Skyrmion Superfluidity in Two-Dimensional Interacting Fermionic Systems
Palumbo, Giandomenico; Cirio, Mauro
In this article we describe a multi-layered honeycomb lattice model of interacting fermions which supports a new kind of parity-preserving skyrmion superfluidity. We derive the low-energy field theory describing a non-BCS fermionic superfluid phase by means of functional fermionization. Such effective theory is a new kind of non-linear sigma model, which we call double skyrmion model. In the bi-layer case, the quasiparticles of the system (skyrmions) have bosonic statistics and replace the Cooper-pairs role. Moreover, we show that the model is also equivalent to a Maxwell-BF theory, which naturally establishes an effective Meissner effect without requiring a breaking of the gauge symmetry. Finally, we map effective superfluidity effects to identities among fermionic observables for the lattice model. This provides a signature of our theoretical skyrmion superfluidy that can be detected in a possible implementation of the lattice model in a real quantum system. PMID:26083978
Theoretical Studies of Liquid He-4 Near the Superfluid Transition
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Manousakis, Efstratios
We performed theoretical studies of liquid helium by applying state of the art simulation and finite-size scaling techniques. We calculated universal scaling functions for the specific heat and superfluid density for various confining geometries relevant for experiments such as the confined helium experiment and other ground based studies. We also studied microscopically how the substrate imposes a boundary condition on the superfluid order parameter as the superfluid film grows layer by layer. Using path-integral Monte Carlo, a quantum Monte Carlo simulation method, we investigated the rich phase diagram of helium monolayer, bilayer and multilayer on a substrate such as graphite. We find excellent agreement with the experimental results using no free parameters. Finally, we carried out preliminary calculations of transport coefficients such as the thermal conductivity for bulk or confined helium systems and of their scaling properties. All our studies provide theoretical support for various experimental studies in microgravity.
Quantum vortex dynamics in two-dimensional neutral superfluids
Wang, C.-C. Joseph; Duine, R. A.; MacDonald, A. H.
We derive an effective action for the vortex-position degree of freedom in a superfluid by integrating out condensate phase- and density-fluctuation environmental modes. When the quantum dynamics of environmental fluctuations is neglected, we confirm the occurrence of the vortex Magnus force and obtain an expression for the vortex mass. We find that this adiabatic approximation is valid only when the superfluid droplet radius R, or the typical distance between vortices, is very much larger than the coherence length xi. We go beyond the adiabatic approximation numerically, accounting for the quantum dynamics of environmental modes and capturing their dissipative coupling to condensate dynamics. For the case of an optical-lattice superfluid, we demonstrate that vortex motion damping can be adjusted by tuning the ratio between the tunneling energy J and the on-site interaction energy U. We comment on the possibility of realizing vortex-Landau-level physics.
Quantum dynamics of impurities coupled to a Fermi sea
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Parish, Meera M.; Levinsen, Jesper
We consider the dynamics of an impurity atom immersed in an ideal Fermi gas at zero temperature. We focus on the coherent quantum evolution of the impurity following a quench to strong impurity-fermion interactions, where the interactions are assumed to be short range like in cold-atom experiments. To approximately model the many-body time evolution, we use a truncated basis method, where at most two particle-hole excitations of the Fermi sea are included. When the system is initially noninteracting, we show that our method exactly captures the short-time dynamics following the quench, and we find that the overlap between initial and final states displays a universal nonanalytic dependence on time in this limit. We further demonstrate how our method can be used to compute the impurity spectral function, as well as describe many-body phenomena involving coupled impurity spin states, such as Rabi oscillations in a medium or highly engineered quantum quenches.
Transport and extraction of radioactive ions stopped in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Huang, W. X.; Dendooven, P.; Gloos, K.; Takahashi, N.; Arutyunov, K.; Pekola, J. P.; Äystö, J.
A new approach to convert a high energy beam to a low energy one, which is essential for the next generation radioactive ion beam facilities, has been proposed and tested at Jyväskylä, Finland. An open 223Ra alpha-decay-recoil source has been used to produce radioactive ions in superfluid helium. The alpha spectra demonstrate that the recoiling 219Rn ions have been extracted out of liquid helium. This first observation of the extraction of heavy positive ions across the superfluid helium surface was possible thanks to the high sensitivity of radioactivity detection. An efficiency of 36% was obtained for the ion extraction out of liquid helium.
Positive ion extraction across the superfluid-vapor helium interface
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Purushothaman, S.; Peräjärvi, K.; Ranjan, M.; Saastamoinen, A.; Gloos, K.; Takahashi, N.; Dendooven, P.
The extraction efficiency of positive Rn ions across the superfluid-vapor helium interface above ~1.3 K indicates that extraction results from thermal activation across a barrier of about 20 K. Below ~1.3 K, the extraction efficiency is constant at about 0.7%. The evaporation of the superfluid surface by second sound pulses has a negative impact on the ion extraction, but not on the ions themselves. It takes 3.2(6) s at 1.60 K and 15(6) s at 1.15 K for the extraction process to recover from a disturbed state of yet unknown nature.
Nucleation of Quantized Vortices from Rotating Superfluid Drops
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Donnelly, Russell J.
The long-term goal of this project is to study the nucleation of quantized vortices in helium II by investigating the behavior of rotating droplets of helium II in a reduced gravity environment. The objective of this ground-based research grant was to develop new experimental techniques to aid in accomplishing that goal. The development of an electrostatic levitator for superfluid helium, described below, and the successful suspension of charged superfluid drops in modest electric fields was the primary focus of this work. Other key technologies of general low temperature use were developed and are also discussed.
Nonequilibrium Dynamics and the Evolution of Superfluid Neutron Stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sauls, Jame
The interior crust and the liquid core of neutron stars are predicted to be a mixture of neutron and proton superfluids and a liquid of relativistic electrons and muons. Quantized vortices in the neutron superfluid and quantized flux lines in the proton superconductor are topological defects of these hadronic condensates. I discuss the roles of nucleation, interaction and evolution of topological defects under non-equilibrium conditions in the context of our current understanding and models of the rotational dynamics of pulsars, as well as thermal and magnetic field evolution of neutron stars. I include some speculative ideas on possibile turbulent vortex states in neutron star interiors.
Superfluid Spin Transport Through Easy-Plane Ferromagnetic Insulators
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Takei, So; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav
Superfluid spin transport—dissipationless transport of spin—is theoretically studied in a ferromagnetic insulator with easy-plane anisotropy. We consider an open geometry where the spin current is injected into the ferromagnet from one side by a metallic reservoir with a nonequilibrium spin accumulation and ejected into another metallic reservoir located downstream. Spin transport is studied using a combination of magnetoelectric circuit theory, Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert phenomenology, and microscopic linear-response theory. We discuss how spin superfluidity can be probed in a magnetically mediated negative electron-drag experiment.
Quantised vortices and mutual friction in relativistic superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Andersson, N.; Wells, S.; Vickers, J. A.
We consider the detailed dynamics of an array of quantised superfluid vortices in the framework of general relativity, as required for quantitative modelling of realistic neutron star cores. Our model builds on the variational approach to relativistic (multi-) fluid dynamics, where the vorticity plays a central role. The description provides a natural extension of, and a better insight into, existing Newtonian models. In particular, we account for the mutual friction associated with scattering of a second 'normal' component in the mixture off of the superfluid vortices. This is an important step which facilitates the connection with the involved microphysics.
Anisotropic Phases of Superfluid 3He in Compressed Aerogel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Li, J. I. A.; Zimmerman, A. M.; Pollanen, J.; Collett, C. A.; Halperin, W. P.
It has been shown that the relative stabilities of various superfluid states of 3He can be influenced by anisotropy in a silica aerogel framework. We prepared a suite of aerogel samples compressed up to 30% for which we performed pulsed NMR on 3He imbibed within the aerogel. We identified A and B phases and determined their magnetic field-temperature phase diagrams as a function of strain. From these results, we infer that the B phase is distorted by negative strain forming an anisotropic superfluid state more stable than the A phase.
Effective theory of chiral two-dimensional superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hoyos, Carlos; Moroz, Sergej; Son, Dam Thanh
We construct, to leading orders in the momentum expansion, an effective theory of a chiral (px+ipy) two-dimensional fermionic superfluid at zero temperature that is consistent with nonrelativistic general coordinate invariance. This theory naturally incorporates the parity and time-reversal violating effects such as the Hall viscosity and the edge current. The particle number current and stress tensor are computed and their linear response to electromagnetic and gravitational sources is calculated. We also consider an isolated vortex in a chiral superfluid and identify the leading chirality effect in the density depletion profile.
Contrasting Mechanical Anisotropies of the Superfluid {sup 3}He Phases in Aerogel
Bradley, D. I.; Fisher, S. N.; Guenault, A. M.; Haley, R. P.; O'Sullivan, S.; Pickett, G. R.; Roberts, J.; Tsepelin, V.; Mulders, N.
There has been much recent interest in how impurity scattering may affect the phases of the p-wave superfluid {sup 3}He. Impurities may be added to the otherwise absolutely pure superfluid by immersing it in aerogel. Some predictions suggest that impurity scattering may destroy orientational order and force all of the superfluid phases to have an isotropic superfluid density. In contrast to this, we present experimental data showing that the response of the A-like phase to superfluid flow is highly anisotropic, revealing a texture that is easily modified by flow.
The Fermiac or Fermi's Trolley
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Coccetti, F.
The Fermiac, known also as Fermi's trolley or Monte Carlo trolley, is an analog computer used to determine the change in time of the neutron population in a nuclear device, via the Monte Carlo method. It was invented by Enrico Fermi and constructed by Percy King at Los Alamos in 1947, and used for about two years. A replica of the Fermiac was built at INFN mechanical workshops of Bologna in 2015, on behalf of the Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche "Enrico Fermi", thanks to the original drawings made available by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This reproduction of the Fermiac was put in use, and a simulation was developed.
Anisotropic type-I superconductivity and anomalous superfluid density in OsB2
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bekaert, J.; Vercauteren, S.; Aperis, A.; Komendová, L.; Prozorov, R.; Partoens, B.; Milošević, M. V.
We present a microscopic study of superconductivity in OsB2, and discuss the origin and characteristic length scales of the superconducting state. From first-principles we show that OsB2 is characterized by three different Fermi sheets, and we prove that this fermiology complies with recent quantum-oscillation experiments. Using the found microscopic properties, and experimental data from the literature, we employ Ginzburg-Landau relations to reveal that OsB2 is a distinctly type-I superconductor with a very low Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ —a rare property among compound materials. We show that the found coherence length and penetration depth corroborate the measured thermodynamic critical field. Moreover, our calculation of the superconducting gap structure using anisotropic Eliashberg theory and ab initio calculated electron-phonon interaction as input reveals a single but anisotropic gap. The calculated gap spectrum is shown to give an excellent account for the unconventional behavior of the superfluid density of OsB2 measured in experiments as a function of temperature. This reveals that gap anisotropy can explain such behavior, observed in several compounds, which was previously attributed solely to a two-gap nature of superconductivity.
Anisotropic type-I superconductivity and anomalous superfluid density in OsB2
Bekaert, Jonas; Vercauteren, S.; Aperis, A.; ...
Here, we present a microscopic study of superconductivity in OsB2, and discuss the origin and characteristic length scales of the superconducting state. From first-principles we show that OsB2 is characterized by three different Fermi sheets, and we prove that this fermiology complies with recent quantum-oscillation experiments. Using the found microscopic properties, and experimental data from the literature, we employ Ginzburg-Landau relations to reveal that OsB2 is a distinctly type-I superconductor with a very low Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ—a rare property among compound materials. We show that the found coherence length and penetration depth corroborate the measured thermodynamic critical field. Moreover, ourmore » calculation of the superconducting gap structure using anisotropic Eliashberg theory and ab initio calculated electron-phonon interaction as input reveals a single but anisotropic gap. The calculated gap spectrum is shown to give an excellent account for the unconventional behavior of the superfluid density of OsB2 measured in experiments as a function of temperature. This reveals that gap anisotropy can explain such behavior, observed in several compounds, which was previously attributed solely to a two-gap nature of superconductivity.« less
Bose-Hubbard models with synthetic spin-orbit coupling: Mott insulators, spin textures, and superfluidity.
Cole, William S; Zhang, Shizhong; Paramekanti, Arun; Trivedi, Nandini
Motivated by the experimental realization of synthetic spin-orbit coupling for ultracold atoms, we investigate the phase diagram of the Bose-Hubbard model in a non-Abelian gauge field in two dimensions. Using a strong coupling expansion in the combined presence of spin-orbit coupling and tunable interactions, we find a variety of interesting magnetic Hamiltonians in the Mott insulator (MI), which support magnetic textures such as spin spirals and vortex and Skyrmion crystals. An inhomogeneous mean-field treatment shows that the superfluid (SF) phases inherit these exotic magnetic orders from the MI and display, in addition, unusual modulated current patterns. We present a slave-boson theory which gives insight into such intertwined spin-charge orders in the SF, and discuss signatures of these orders in Bragg scattering, in situ microscopy, and dynamic quench experiments.
Thermoluminescence Dynamics During Destructions of Porous Structures Formed by Nitrogen Nanoclusters in Bulk Superfluid Helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meraki, Adil; Mao, Shun; McColgan, Patrick T.; Boltnev, Roman E.; Lee, David M.; Khmelenko, Vladimir V.
We studied the dynamics of thermoluminescence during destruction of porous structures formed by nanoclusters of nitrogen molecules containing high concentrations of stabilized nitrogen atoms. The porous structures were formed in bulk superfluid helium by injection of the products of discharges in nitrogen-helium gas mixtures through the liquid helium surface. Fast recombination of nitrogen atoms during warming-up led to explosive destruction of the porous structures accompanied by bright flashes. Intense emissions from the α -group of nitrogen atoms, the β -group of oxygen atoms and the Vegard-Kaplan bands of N_2 molecules were observed at the beginning of destruction. At the end of destruction the M- and β -bands of NO molecules as well as bands of O_2 molecules were also observed. Observation of the emissions from NO molecules at the end of destruction was explained by processes of accumulation of NO molecules in the system due to the large van der Waals interaction of NO molecules. For the first time, we observed the emission of the O_2 molecules at the end of destruction of the porous nitrogen structures as a result of the (NO)_2 dimer formation in solid nitrogen and subsequent processes leading to the appearance of excited O_2 molecules.
Comment on "Continuum model of vortex oscillations in rotating superfluids"
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tsakadze, J. S.; Tsakadze, S. J.; Sonin, E. B.
Recent experiments as well as theoretical calculations show that the theory of vortex oscillations in rotating superfluids in the case of the slowest modes (Tkachenko modes) in finite containers must take into account vortex pinning at the container bottom except for the case of very long containers.
Laser cooling and control of excitations in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Harris, G. I.; McAuslan, D. L.; Sheridan, E.; Sachkou, Y.; Baker, C.; Bowen, W. P.
Superfluidity is a quantum state of matter that exists macroscopically in helium at low temperatures. The elementary excitations in superfluid helium have been probed with great success using techniques such as neutron and light scattering. However, measurements of phonon excitations have so far been limited to average thermodynamic properties or the driven response far out of thermal equilibrium. Here, we use cavity optomechanics to probe the thermodynamics of phonon excitations in real time. Furthermore, strong light-matter interactions allow both laser cooling and amplification. This represents a new tool to observe and control superfluid excitations that may provide insight into phonon-phonon interactions, quantized vortices and two-dimensional phenomena such as the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. The third sound modes studied here also offer a pathway towards quantum optomechanics with thin superfluid films, including the prospect of femtogram masses, high mechanical quality factors, strong phonon-phonon and phonon-vortex interactions, and self-assembly into complex geometries with sub-nanometre feature size.
Superfluid helium cryogenic systems for superconducting RF cavities at KEK
Nakai, H.; Hara, K.; Honma, T.; Hosoyama, K.; Kojima, Y.; Nakanishi, K.; Kanekiyo, T.; Morita, S.
Recent accelerator projects at KEK, such as the Superconducting RF Test Facility (STF) for R and D of the International Linear Collider (ILC) project and the compact Energy Recovery Linac (cERL), employ superconducting RF cavities made of pure niobium, which can generate high gradient acceleration field. Since the operation temperature of these cavities is selected to be 2 K, we have developed two 2 K superfluid helium cryogenic systems for stable operation of superconducting RF cavities for each of STF and cERL. These two 2 K superfluid helium cryogenic systems are identical in principle. Since the operation mode of the cavities is different for STF and cERL, i.e. the pulse mode for STF and the continuous wave mode for cERL, the heat loads from the cavities are quite different. The 2 K superfluid helium cryogenic systems mainly consists of ordinary helium liquefiers/refrigerators, 2 K refrigerator cold boxes, helium gas pumping systems and high-performance transfer lines. The 2 K refrigerators and the high-performance transfer lines are designed by KEK. Some superconducting RF cavity cryomodules have been already connected to the 2 K superfluid helium cryogenic systems for STF and cERL respectively, and cooled down to 2 K successfully.
Fermi Finds Youthful Pulsar Among Ancient Stars
In three years, NASA's Fermi has detected more than 100 gamma-ray pulsars, but something new has appeared. Among a type of pulsar with ages typically numbering a billion years or more, Fermi has fo...
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yang, Chen Ning
Throughout his lifetime Enrico Fermi (1901-1954) had considered his 1934 β-decay theory as his most important contribution to theoretical physics. E. Segrè (1905-1989) had vividly written about an episode at the inception of that paper:1...
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gurzadyan, V. G.; Penrose, R.
Within the scheme of conformal cyclic cosmology (CCC), information can be transmitted from aeon to aeon. Accordingly, the "Fermi paradox" and the SETI programme --of communication by remote civilizations-- may be examined from a novel perspective: such information could, in principle, be encoded in the cosmic microwave background. The current empirical status of CCC is also discussed.
Economics and the Fermi Paradox
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hosek, W. R.
A resolution of the Fermi paradox is proposed using common economic assumptions that should apply to all intelligent, planet-bound civilizations. It is argued that seemingly rational decisions about resource allocation will lead all civilizations to forego the commitment to interstellar exploration and colonization. Consequently humans have not, and will not, be visited by them and humans will not visit other civilizations.
Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT)
Fermiâs Large Area Telescope (LAT) is the spacecraftâs main scientificinstrument. This animation shows a gamma ray (purple) entering the LAT,where it is converted into an electron (red) and a...
Intriguing Role of Hole-Cooper in Superconductors and Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Grether, M.; de Llano, M.; Ramírez, S.; Rojo, O.
The role in superconductors of hole-Cooper-pairs (CPs) are examined and contrasted with the more familiar electron-CPs, with special emphasis on their "background" effect in enhancing superconducting transition temperatures Tc — even when electron-CPs drive the transition. Both kinds of CPs are, of course, present at all temperatures. An analogy is drawn between the hole CPs in any many-fermion system with the antibosons in a relativistic ideal Bose gas that appear in substantial numbers only at higher and higher temperatures. Their indispensable role in yielding a lower Helmholtz free energy equilibrium state is established. For superconductors, the problem is viewed in terms of a generalized Bose-Einstein condensation (GBEC) theory that is an extension of the Friedberg-T.D. Lee 1989 boson-fermion BEC theory of high-Tc superconductors in that the GBEC theory includes hole CPs as well as electron-CPs — thereby containing as well as further extending BCS theory to higher temperatures with the same weak-coupling electron-phonon interaction parameters. We show that the Helmholtz free energy of both 2e- and 2h-CP pure condensates has a positive second derivative, and are thus stable equilibrium states. Finally, it is conjectured that the role of hole pairs in ultra-cold fermionic atom gases will likely be negligible because the very low densities involved imply a "shallow" Fermi sea.
Intriguing Role of Hole-Cooper in Superconductors and Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Grether, M.; de Llano, M.; Ramírez, S.; Rojo, O.
The role in superconductors of hole-Cooper-pairs (CPs) are examined and contrasted with the more familiar electron-CPs, with special emphasis on their "background" effect in enhancing superconducting transition temperatures Tc -- even when electron-CPs drive the transition. Both kinds of CPs are, of course, present at all temperatures. An analogy is drawn between the hole CPs in any many-fermion system with the antibosons in a relativistic ideal Bose gas that appear in substantial numbers only at higher and higher temperatures. Their indispensable role in yielding a lower Helmholtz free energy equilibrium state is established. For superconductors, the problem is viewed in terms of a generalized Bose-Einstein condensation (GBEC) theory that is an extension of the Friedberg-T.D. Lee 1989 boson-fermion BEC theory of high-Tc superconductors in that the GBEC theory includes hole CPs as well as electron-CPs -- thereby containing as well as further extending BCS theory to higher temperatures with the same weak-coupling electron-phonon interaction parameters. We show that the Helmholtz free energy of both 2e- and 2h-CP pure condensates has a positive second derivative, and are thus stable equilibrium states. Finally, it is conjectured that the role of hole pairs in ultra-cold fermionic atom gases will likely be negligible because the very low densities involved imply a "shallow" Fermi sea.
Bose-Einstein condensation of particle-hole pairs in ultracold fermionic atoms trapped within optical lattices.
Lee, Chaohong
We investigate the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC, superfluidity) of particle-hole pairs in ultracold fermionic atoms with repulsive interactions and arbitrary polarization, which are trapped within optical lattices. In the strongly repulsive limit, the dynamics of particle-hole pairs can be described by a hard-core Bose-Hubbard model. The insulator-superfluid and charge-density-wave- (CDW) superfluid phase transitions can be induced by decreasing and increasing the potential depths with controlling the trapping laser intensity, respectively. The parameter and polarization dependence of the critical temperatures for the ordered states (BEC and/or CDW) are discussed simultaneously.
STEM education and Fermi problems
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Holubova, Renata
One of the research areas of Physics education is the study of the educational process. Investigations in this area are aimed for example on the teaching and learning process and its results. The conception of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is discussed - it is one possible approach to the preparation of the curriculum and the focus on the educational process at basic and secondary schools. At schools in the Czech Republic STEM is much more realized by the application of interdisciplinary relations between subjects Physics-Nature-Technique. In both conceptions the aim is to support pupils' creativity, critical thinking, cross-curricular links. In this context the possibility of using Fermi problems in teaching Physics was discussed (as an interdisciplinary and constructivist activity). The aim of our research was the analysis of Fermi problems solving strategies, the ability of pupils to solve Fermi problems. The outcome of our analysis was to find out methods and teaching strategies which are important to use in teaching - how to solve qualitative and interdisciplinary tasks in physics. In this paper the theoretical basis of STEM education and Fermi problems will be presented. The outcome of our findings based on the research activities will be discussed so as our experiences from 10 years of Fermi problems competition that takes place at the Science Faculty, Palacky University in Olomouc. Changes in competencies of solving tasks by our students (from the point of view in terms of modern, activating teaching methods recommended by theory of Physics education and other science subjects) will be identified.
The response of the polarized Fermi mixture to an artificial vector potential: The interaction strength and imbalance chemical potential effects
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ebrahimian, N.; Safiee, Z.
We consider a polarized Fermi mixture (with normal-superfluid phase separation), subjected to artificial vector potential. We concentrate on the BCS regime with various interaction strengths and numerically obtain the polarisability of the system. We obtain the functional dependence of the polarisability of the system on frequency and the relevant physical parameters, namely the interaction strength, the mass ratio, the average and imbalance chemical potentials. Also, we find the special frequency (ωs), for which the rate of the response of system to the potential is changed and the cut-off frequency (ωcutoff), for which the response starts to become infinity. We investigate the behavior of the curves of polarisability versus proper physical parameters for ω <ωs and ωs < ω <ωcutoff at a nonzero temperature and interpret the existence of special and cut-off frequencies via the propagator concept (of particles or holes). Also, we offer the explanation of the minimum energy required for the occurrence of the pair-breaking process and the existence of the cut-off frequency, which is different with respect to the conventional superfluid Fermi gas, and is related to the relevant physical parameters. Finally, the system's response can be controlled by relevant physical parameters, such as interaction strength.
Vortices and turbulence in trapped atomic condensates
White, Angela C.; Anderson, Brian P.; Bagnato, Vanderlei S.
After more than a decade of experiments generating and studying the physics of quantized vortices in atomic gas Bose–Einstein condensates, research is beginning to focus on the roles of vortices in quantum turbulence, as well as other measures of quantum turbulence in atomic condensates. Such research directions have the potential to uncover new insights into quantum turbulence, vortices, and superfluidity and also explore the similarities and differences between quantum and classical turbulence in entirely new settings. Here we present a critical assessment of theoretical and experimental studies in this emerging field of quantum turbulence in atomic condensates. PMID:24704880
Quantum theory of cold bosonic atoms in optical lattices
Tilahun, Dagim; Duine, R. A.; MacDonald, A. H.
Ultracold atoms in optical lattices undergo a quantum phase transition from a superfluid to a Mott insulator as the lattice potential depth is increased. We describe an approximate theory of interacting bosons in optical lattices which provides a qualitative description of both superfluid and insulator states. The theory is based on a change of variables in which the boson coherent state amplitude is replaced by an effective potential which promotes phase coherence between different number states on each lattice site. It is illustrated here by applying it to uniform and fully frustrated lattice cases but is simple enough that it can be applied to spatially inhomogeneous lattice systems.
Dynamics of Superfluid Helium in Low-Gravity
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Frank, David J.
This report summarizes the work performed under a contract entitled 'Dynamics of Superfluid Helium in Low Gravity'. This project performed verification tests, over a wide range of accelerations of two Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes of which one incorporates the two-fluid model of superfluid helium (SFHe). Helium was first liquefied in 1908 and not until the 1930s were the properties of helium below 2.2 K observed sufficiently to realize that it did not obey the ordinary physical laws of physics as applied to ordinary liquids. The term superfluidity became associated with these unique observations. The low temperature of SFHe and it's temperature unifonrmity have made it a significant cryogenic coolant for use in space applications in astronomical observations with infrared sensors and in low temperature physics. Superfluid helium has been used in instruments such as the Shuttle Infrared Astronomy Telescope (IRT), the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), the Cosmic Background Observatory (COBE), and the Infrared Satellite Observatory (ISO). It is also used in the Space Infrared Telescope (SIRTF), Relativity Mission Satellite formally called Gravity Probe-B (GP-B), and the Test of the Equivalence Principle (STEP) presently under development. For GP-B and STEP, the use of SFHE is used to cool Superconducting Quantum Interference Detectors (SQUIDS) among other parts of the instruments. The Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) experiment flown in the Shuttle studied the behavior of SFHE. This experiment attempted to get low-gravity slosh data, however, the main emphasis was to study the low-gravity transfer of SFHE from tank to tank. These instruments carried tanks of SFHE of a few hundred liters to 2500 liters. The capability of modeling the behavior of SFHE is important to spacecraft control engineers who must design systems that can overcome disturbances created by the movement of the fluid. In addition instruments such as GP-B and STEP are very
Characterization of quantum vortex dynamics in superfluid helium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meichle, David P.
Liquid helium obtains superfluid properties when cooled below the Lambda transition temperature of 2.17 K. A superfluid, which is a partial Bose Einstein condensate, has many exotic properties including free flow without friction, and ballistic instead of diffusive heat transport. A superfluid is also uniquely characterized by the presence of quantized vortices, dynamical line-like topological phase defects around which all circulation in the flow is constrained. Two vortices can undergo a violent process called reconnection when they approach, cross, and retract having exchanged tails. With a numerical examination of a local, linearized solution near reconnection we discovered a dynamically unstable stationary solution to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, which was relaxed to a fully non-linear solution using imaginary time propagation. This investigation explored vortex reconnection in the context of the changing topology of the order parameter, a complex field governing the superfluid dynamics at zero temperature. The dynamics of the vortices can be studied experimentally by dispersing tracer particles into a superfluid flow and recording their motions with movie cameras. The pioneering work of Bewley et al. provided the first visualization technique using frozen gases to create tracer particles. Using this technique, we experimentally observed for the first time the excitation of helical traveling waves on a vortex core called Kelvin waves. Kelvin waves are thought to be a central mechanism for dissipation in this inviscid fluid, as they provide an efficient cascade mechanism for transferring energy from large to microscopic length scales. We examined the Kelvin waves in detail, and compared their dynamics in fully self-similar non-dimensional coordinates to theoretical predictions. Additionally, two experimental advances are presented. A newly invented technique for reliably dispersing robust, nanometer-scale fluorescent tracer particles directly into the
Sound-induced vortex interactions in a zero temperature two-dimensional superfluid
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Surowka, Piotr; Lucas, Andrew
Recent experimental work on two-dimensional turbulent superfluids have increased the importance of resolving fundamental theoretical questions about the nature of superfluid turbulence in two dimensions. Crucial to this task is a proper understanding of the effective dynamics of vortices in the superfluid. We present a systematic calculation of the effective action of N > 1 superfluid vortices, assuming that the underlying continuum action is the Gross-Pitaevskii action. Our calculation is valid at next-to-leading order in the ratio of the vortex core size to intervortex spacing, and so takes into account the leading-order dressing of superfluid vortices by sound. We are able to exactly determine the action for a pair of vortices and we find that it demonstrates no instability to annihilation. This is suggestive that the inverse cascade picture of classical turbulence is qualitatively correct for a turbulent zero temperature superfluid.
Observation of a new superfluid phase for 3He embedded in nematically ordered aerogel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhelev, N.; Reichl, M.; Abhilash, T. S.; Smith, E. N.; Nguyen, K. X.; Mueller, E. J.; Parpia, J. M.
In bulk superfluid 3He at zero magnetic field, two phases emerge with the B-phase stable everywhere except at high pressures and temperatures, where the A-phase is favoured. Aerogels with nanostructure smaller than the superfluid coherence length are the only means to introduce disorder into the superfluid. Here we use a torsion pendulum to study 3He confined in an extremely anisotropic, nematically ordered aerogel consisting of ~10 nm-thick alumina strands, spaced by ~100 nm, and aligned parallel to the pendulum axis. Kinks in the development of the superfluid fraction (at various pressures) as the temperature is varied correspond to phase transitions. Two such transitions are seen in the superfluid state, and we identify the superfluid phase closest to Tc at low pressure as the polar state, a phase that is not seen in bulk 3He.
Evidence for a π-junction in Nb/F/Nb' trilayers from superfluid density measurements
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lemberger, Thomas; Hinton, Michael; Steers, Stanley; Peters, Bryan; Yang, Fengyuan
Two-coil measurements of the sheet superfluid density of Nb/NiV/Nb' trilayers reveal the transition temperatures and volume superfluid densities of both Nb layers, as functions of the thickness, dF, of the intervening ferromagnetic (F) Ni0.96V0.04 layer. The upper transition occurs when the thicker Nb layer goes superconducting and superfluid first appears. Fitting the high-temperature superfluid density to an appropriate functional form reveals the presence of a lower ``transition'' where additional superfluid appears. This event is really a crossover, but the difference is irrelevant here. There is a surprising minimum in superfluid densities of both Nb layers at dF ~ 30 Å, followed by a slow rise. This behavior suggests that a π phase difference between the Nb layers develops at dF ~ 30 Å and continues to larger F thickness. Supported in part by NSF Grant DMR-0805227.
Modeling and development of a superfluid magnetic pump with no moving parts
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jahromi, Amir Eshraghniaye; Miller, Franklin; Nellis, Gregory
Current state of the art sub Kelvin Superfluid Stirling Refrigerators and Pulse tube Superfluid Refrigerators use multiple bellows pistons to execute the cycle. These types of displacers can be replaced by a newly introduced pump, a Superfluid Magnetic Pump, with no moving parts. Integration of this pump in the Pulse tube Superfluid Refrigeration system will make it a sub Kelvin Stirling refrigeration system free of any moving parts that is suitable for use in space cooling applications. The Superfluid Magnetic Pump consists of a canister that contains Gadolinium Gallium Garnet particles that is surrounded by a superconducting magnetic coil. The driving mechanism of this pump is the fountain effect in He II. A qualitative description of one cycle operation of the Superfluid Magnetic Pump is presented followed by a numerical model for each process of the cycle.
Observation of a new superfluid phase for 3He embedded in nematically ordered aerogel
Zhelev, N.; Reichl, M.; Abhilash, T. S.; Smith, E. N.; Nguyen, K. X.; Mueller, E. J.; Parpia, J. M.
In bulk superfluid 3He at zero magnetic field, two phases emerge with the B-phase stable everywhere except at high pressures and temperatures, where the A-phase is favoured. Aerogels with nanostructure smaller than the superfluid coherence length are the only means to introduce disorder into the superfluid. Here we use a torsion pendulum to study 3He confined in an extremely anisotropic, nematically ordered aerogel consisting of ∼10 nm-thick alumina strands, spaced by ∼100 nm, and aligned parallel to the pendulum axis. Kinks in the development of the superfluid fraction (at various pressures) as the temperature is varied correspond to phase transitions. Two such transitions are seen in the superfluid state, and we identify the superfluid phase closest to Tc at low pressure as the polar state, a phase that is not seen in bulk 3He. PMID:27669660
Strongly Correlated States of Ultracold Rotating Dipolar Fermi Gases
Osterloh, Klaus; Barberan, Nuria; Lewenstein, Maciej
We study strongly correlated ground and excited states of rotating quasi-2D Fermi gases constituted of a small number of dipole-dipole interacting particles with dipole moments polarized perpendicular to the plane of motion. As the number of atoms grows, the system enters an intermediate regime, where ground states are subject to a competition between distinct bulk-edge configurations. This effect obscures their description in terms of composite fermions and leads to the appearance of novel quasihole ground states. In the presence of dipolar interactions, the principal Laughlin state at filling {nu}=1/3 exhibits a substantial energy gap for neutral (total angular momentum conserving) excitations and is well-described as an incompressible Fermi liquid. Instead, at lower fillings, the ground state structure favors crystalline order.
Fermi resonance in optical microcavities
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yi, Chang-Hwan; Yu, Hyeon-Hye; Lee, Ji-Won; Kim, Chil-Min
Fermi resonance is a phenomenon of quantum mechanical superposition, which most often occurs between normal and overtone modes in molecular systems that are nearly coincident in energy. We find that scarred resonances in deformed dielectric microcavities are the very phenomenon of Fermi resonance, that is, a pair of quasinormal modes interact with each other due to coupling and a pair of resonances are generated through an avoided resonance crossing. Then the quantum number difference of a pair of quasinormal modes, which is a consequence of quantum mechanical superposition, equals periodic orbits, whereby the resonances are localized on the periodic orbits. We derive the relation between the quantum number difference and the periodic orbits and confirm it in an elliptic, a rectangular, and a stadium-shaped dielectric microcavity.
On the mechanism of electromagnetic microwave absorption in superfluid helium
Pashitskii, E. A. Pentegov, V. I.
In experiments on electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption in the microwave range in superfluid (SF) helium [1-3], a narrow EM field absorption line with a width on the order of (20-200) kHz was observed against the background of a wide absorption band with a width of 30-40 GHz at frequencies f{sub 0} Almost-Equal-To 110-180 GHz corresponding to the roton gap energy {Delta}{sub r}(T) in the temperature range 1.4-2.2 K. Using the so-called flexoelectric mechanism of polarization of helium atoms ({sup 4}He) in the presence of density gradients in SF helium (HeII), we show that nonresonance microwave absorption in the frequency range 170-200 GHz can be due to the existence of time-varying local density gradients produced by roton excitations in the bulk HeII. The absorption bandwidth is determined by the roton-roton scattering time in an equilibrium Boltzmann gas of rotons, which is t{sub r-r} Almost-Equal-To 3.4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -11} s at T = 1.4 K and decreases upon heating. We propose that the anomalously narrow microwave resonance absorption line in HeII at the roton frequency f{sub 0}(T) = {Delta}r(T)/2{pi}h appears due to the following two factors: (i) the discrete structure of the spectrum of the surface EM resonator modes in the form of a periodic sequence of narrow peaks and (ii) the presence of a stationary dipole layer in HeII near the resonator surface, which forms due to polarization of {sup 4}He atoms under the action of the density gradient associated with the vanishing of the density of the SF component at the solid wall. For this reason, the relaxation of nonequilibrium rotons generated in such a surface dipole layer is strongly suppressed, and the shape and width of the microwave resonance absorption line are determined by the roton density of states, which has a sharp peak at the edge of the roton gap in the case of weak dissipation. The effective dipole moments of rotons in the dipole layer can be directed either along or across the normal to
Vortex line in the unitary Fermi gas
Madeira, Lucas; Vitiello, Silvio A.; Gandolfi, Stefano; Schmidt, Kevin E.
Here, we report diffusion Monte Carlo results for the ground state of unpolarized spin-1/2 fermions in a cylindrical container and properties of the system with a vortex-line excitation. The density profile of the system with a vortex line presents a nonzero density at the core. We also calculate the ground-state energy per particle, the superfluid pairing gap, and the excitation energy per particle. Finally, these simulations can be extended to calculate the properties of vortex excitations in other strongly interacting systems such as superfluid neutron matter using realistic nuclear Hamiltonians.
Nonlocal quantum fluctuations and fermionic superfluidity in the imbalanced attractive Hubbard model.
Heikkinen, M O J; Kim, D-H; Troyer, M; Törmä, P
We study fermionic superfluidity in strongly anisotropic optical lattices with attractive interactions utilizing the cluster dynamical mean-field theory method, and focusing in particular on the role of nonlocal quantum fluctuations. We show that nonlocal quantum fluctuations impact the BCS superfluid transition dramatically. Moreover, we show that exotic superfluid states with a delicate order parameter structure, such as the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase driven by spin population imbalance, can emerge even in the presence of such strong fluctuations.
Enrico Fermi and the Dolomites
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Battimelli, Giovanni; de Angelis, Alessandro
Summer vacations in the Dolomites were a tradition among the professors of the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Roma since the end of the XIX century. Beyond the academic walls, people like Tullio Levi-Civita, Federigo Enriques and Ugo Amaldi sr., together with their families, were meeting friends and colleagues in Cortina, San Vito, Dobbiaco, Vigo di Fassa and Selva, enjoying trekking together with scientific discussions. The tradition was transmitted to the next generations, in particular in the first half of the XX century, and the group of via Panisperna was directly connected: Edoardo Amaldi, the son of the mathematician Ugo sr., rented at least during two summers, in 1925 and in 1949, and in the winter of 1960, a house in San Vito di Cadore, and almost every year in the Dolomites; Enrico Fermi was a frequent guest. Many important steps in modern physics, in particular the development of the Fermi-Dirac statistics and the Fermi theory of beta decay, are related to scientific discussions held in the region of the Dolomites.
Fermi Timing and Synchronization System
Wilcox, R.; Staples, J.; Doolittle, L.; Byrd, J.; Ratti, A.; Kaertner, F.X.; Kim, J.; Chen, J.; Ilday, F.O.; Ludwig, F.; Winter, A.; Ferianis, M.; Danailov, M.; D'Auria, G.
The Fermi FEL will depend critically on precise timing of its RF, laser and diagnostic subsystems. The timing subsystem to coordinate these functions will need to reliably maintain sub-100fs synchronicity between distant points up to 300m apart in the Fermi facility. The technology to do this is not commercially available, and has not been experimentally demonstrated in a working facility. Therefore, new technology must be developed to meet these needs. Two approaches have been researched by different groups working with the Fermi staff. At MIT, a pulse transmission scheme has been developed for synchronization of RF and laser devices. And at LBL, a CW transmission scheme has been developed for RF and laser synchronization. These respective schemes have advantages and disadvantages that will become better understood in coming years. This document presents the work done by both teams, and suggests a possible system design which integrates them both. The integrated system design provides an example of how choices can be made between the different approaches without significantly changing the basic infrastructure of the system. Overall system issues common to any synchronization scheme are also discussed.
Dynamics of vortices in neutral superfluids with noninteracting phonons
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fortin, Jean-Yves
The transverse force on an isolated and moving vortex in a neutral superfluid at rest is evaluated at finite temperature in the case of noninteracting phonons. Using the Thouless, Ao, Niu (TAN) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3758 (1996)] general theory, we show that the transverse force is exactly equal to the superfluid Magnus force. We extend this theory in the case of a slowly moving vortex on a circular trajectory, and find an additional contribution coming from the centrifugal reaction. This term gives a negative vortex mass due to the phonons and diverges logarithmically at low frequency. The friction force is also evaluated for zero and finite frequencies, and compared with the scattering theory.
Superfluid Spin Transport through Easy-Plane Ferromagnetic Insulators
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Takei, So; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav
Superfluid spin transport | dissipationless transport of spin | is theoretically studied in a ferromagnetic insulator with easy-plane anisotropy. We consider an open geometry where spin current is injected into the ferromagnet from one side by a metallic reservoir with a nonequilibrium spin accumulation, and ejected into another metallic reservoir located downstream. Spin transport through the device is studied using a combination of magnetoelectric circuit theory, Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert phenomenology, and microscopic linear-response theory. We discuss how spin superfluidity can be probed using a magnetically-mediated electron-drag experiment. This work was supported in part by FAME (an SRC STARnet center sponsored by MARCO and DARPA), the NSF under Grant No. DMR-0840965, and Grant No. 228481 from the Simons Foundation.
Hot-wire anemometry for superfluid turbulent coflows.
Durì, Davide; Baudet, Christophe; Moro, Jean-Paul; Roche, Philippe-Emmanuel; Diribarne, Pantxo
We report the first evidence of an enhancement of the heat transfer from a heated wire to an external turbulent coflow of superfluid helium. We used a standard Pt-Rh hot-wire anemometer and overheat it up to 21 K in a pressurized liquid helium turbulent round jet at temperatures between 1.9 K and 2.12 K. The null-velocity response of the sensor can be satisfactorily modeled by the counterflow mechanism, while the extra cooling produced by the forced convection is found to scale similarly as the corresponding extra cooling in classical fluids. We propose a preliminary analysis of the response of the sensor and show that-contrary to a common assumption-such sensor can be used to probe local velocity in turbulent superfluid helium.
Vortex Loops at the Superfluid Lambda Transition: An Exact Theory?
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Williams, Gary A.
A vortex-loop theory of the superfluid lambda transition has been developed over the last decade, with many results in agreement with experiments. It is a very simple theory, consisting of just three basic equations. When it was first proposed the main uncertainty in the theory was the use Flory scaling to find the fractal dimension of the random-walking vortex loops. Recent developments in high-resolution Monte Carlo simulations have now made it possible to verify the accuracy of this Flory-scaling assumption. Although the loop theory is not yet rigorously proven to be exact, the Monte Carlo results show at the least that it is an extremely good approximation. Recent loop calculations of the critical Casimir effect in helium films in the superfluid phase T < Tc will be compared with similar perturbative RG calculations in the normal phase T > Tc; the two calculations are found to match very nicely right at Tc.
Germanium resistance thermometer calibration at superfluid helium temperatures
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Mason, F. C.
The rapid increase in resistance of high purity semi-conducting germanium with decreasing temperature in the superfluid helium range of temperatures makes this material highly adaptable as a very sensitive thermometer. Also, a germanium thermometer exhibits a highly reproducible resistance versus temperature characteristic curve upon cycling between liquid helium temperatures and room temperature. These two factors combine to make germanium thermometers ideally suited for measuring temperatures in many cryogenic studies at superfluid helium temperatures. One disadvantage, however, is the relatively high cost of calibrated germanium thermometers. In space helium cryogenic systems, many such thermometers are often required, leading to a high cost for calibrated thermometers. The construction of a thermometer calibration cryostat and probe which will allow for calibrating six germanium thermometers at one time, thus effecting substantial savings in the purchase of thermometers is considered.
Hot-wire anemometry for superfluid turbulent coflows
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Durı, Davide; Baudet, Christophe; Moro, Jean-Paul; Roche, Philippe-Emmanuel; Diribarne, Pantxo
We report the first evidence of an enhancement of the heat transfer from a heated wire to an external turbulent coflow of superfluid helium. We used a standard Pt-Rh hot-wire anemometer and overheat it up to 21 K in a pressurized liquid helium turbulent round jet at temperatures between 1.9 K and 2.12 K. The null-velocity response of the sensor can be satisfactorily modeled by the counterflow mechanism, while the extra cooling produced by the forced convection is found to scale similarly as the corresponding extra cooling in classical fluids. We propose a preliminary analysis of the response of the sensor and show that—contrary to a common assumption—such sensor can be used to probe local velocity in turbulent superfluid helium.
Criterion for Bosonic Superfluidity in an Optical Lattice
Diener, Roberto B.; Zhou Qi; Zhai Hui; Ho, T.-L.
We show that the current method of determining superfluidity in optical lattices based on a visibly sharp bosonic momentum distribution n(k) can be misleading, for even a normal Bose gas can have a similarly sharp n(k). We show that superfluidity in a homogeneous system can be detected from the so-called visibility (v) of n(k)--that v must be 1 within O(N{sup -2/3}), where N is the number of bosons. We also show that the T=0 visibility of trapped lattice bosons is far higher than what is obtained in some current experiments, suggesting strong temperature effects and that these states can be normal. These normal states allow one to explore the physics in the quantum critical region.
Superfluid density of a spin-orbit-coupled Bose gas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhang, Yi-Cai; Yu, Zeng-Qiang; Ng, Tai Kai; Zhang, Shizhong; Pitaevskii, Lev; Stringari, Sandro
We discuss the superfluid properties of a uniform, weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensed gas with spin-orbit coupling, realized recently in experiments. We find a finite normal fluid density ρn at zero temperature which turns out to be a function of the Raman coupling. In particular, the entire fluid becomes normal at the transition point from the zero momentum to the plane wave phase, even though the condensate fraction remains finite. We emphasize the crucial role played by the breaking of Galilean invariance and by the gapped branch of the elementary excitations whose contribution to various sum rules is discussed explicitly. Our predictions for the superfluid density are successfully compared with the available experimental results based on the measurement of the sound velocities.
Action-at-a-distance in confined superfluid 4-HE
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Thomson, Stephen R. D.
Previous measurements of the superfluid density for 4He revealed effects at distances much larger than the correlation length. The first study in this thesis was to systematically examine the length scale over which these effects can manifest via confining the 4He in a Corbino geometry. The Corbino geometry consists of two concentric 268 nm planar regions connected via a 34 nm film above a ring of width W. This width W is varied from 4 micrometers up to 100 micrometers in different experimental cells. Two new effects in the superfluid fraction were found: one is hydrodynamic and the other is a shift in the transition temperature as a function of ring width. A second study examined planar films. This revealed that overall scaling fails while the critical temperature can be scaled.
Quantum Nucleation of Phase Slips in 1-d Superfluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Arovas, Daniel
The rate for quantum nucleation of phase slips past an impurity in a one-dimensional superfluid is computed. Real time evolution of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation shows that there is a critical velocity vc below which solutions are time-independent [1,2]; this is the regime of quantum phase slip nucleation. We start with the Gross-Pitaevskii model in the presence of an impurity potential, and derive the Euclidean action for a space-time vortex-antivortex pair, which describes a phase slip event. The action is computed as a function of the superfluid velocity v and the impurity potential width and depth.l [1] V. Hakim, Phys. Rev. E 55, 2835 (1997).l [1] J. A. Freire, D. P. Arovas, and H. Levine, Phys. Rev. Lett (in press, 1997).l
Instabilities in relativistic two-component (super)fluids
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Haber, Alexander; Schmitt, Andreas; Stetina, Stephan
We study two-fluid systems with nonzero fluid velocities and compute their sound modes, which indicate various instabilities. For the case of two zero-temperature superfluids we employ a microscopic field-theoretical model of two coupled bosonic fields, including an entrainment coupling and a nonentrainment coupling. We analyze the onset of the various instabilities systematically and point out that the dynamical two-stream instability can occur only beyond Landau's critical velocity, i.e., in an already energetically unstable regime. A qualitative difference is found for the case of two normal fluids, where certain transverse modes suffer a two-stream instability in an energetically stable regime if there is entrainment between the fluids. Since we work in a fully relativistic setup, our results are very general and are of potential relevance for (super)fluids in neutron stars and, in the nonrelativistic limit of our results, in the laboratory.
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) superfluid helium tank temperature control
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Petrac, D.; Mason, P. V.
The infrared detectors on the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), which was placed into a polar orbit in January 1983, are cooled to a temperature of less than 3 K by thermal coupling to the main cryogenic tank (MCT) containing superfluid helium. A porous plug built into the vent line entrance acts as a superfluid helium liquid/vapor separator in zero gravity. A description of the IRAS MCT flight porous plug is presented, and tests of the plug in situ are discussed, taking into account submerged plug tests, a restart test, and a cold vapor flow test. Aspects of flow rate determination in the case of an unavailability of flight flow rate data are also considered.
Superfluid hydrodynamics in the inner crust of neutron stars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Martin, Noël; Urban, Michael
The inner crust of neutron stars is supposed to be inhomogeneous and composed of dense structures (clusters) that are immersed in a dilute gas of unbound neutrons. Here we consider spherical clusters forming a body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal and cylindrical rods arranged in a hexagonal lattice. We study the relative motion of these dense structures and the neutron gas using superfluid hydrodynamics. Within this approach, which relies on the assumption that Cooper pairs are small compared to the crystalline structures, we find that the entrainment of neutrons by the clusters is very weak since neutrons of the gas can flow through the clusters. Consequently, we obtain a low effective mass of the clusters and a superfluid density that is even higher than the density of unbound neutrons. Consequences for the constraints from glitch observations are discussed.
Decay of Pure Quantum Turbulence in Superfluid {sup 3}He-B
Bradley, D.I.; Clubb, D.O.; Fisher, S.N.; Guenault, A.M.; Haley, R.P.; Matthews, C.J.; Pickett, G.R.; Tsepelin, V.; Zaki, K.
We describe measurements of the decay of pure superfluid turbulence in superfluid {sup 3}He-B, in the low temperature regime where the normal fluid density is negligible. We follow the decay of the turbulence generated by a vibrating grid as detected by vibrating wire resonators. Despite the absence of any classical normal fluid dissipation processes, the decay is consistent with turbulence having the classical Kolmogorov energy spectrum and is remarkably similar to that measured in superfluid {sup 4}He at relatively high temperatures. Further, our results strongly suggest that the decay is governed by the superfluid circulation quantum rather than kinematic viscosity.
Heat Capacity of Superfluid (sup 4)He in the Presence of a Heat Current Near T
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Chui, Talso C. P.; Goodstein, David L.; Harter, Alexa W.; Mukhopadhyay, Ranjan
The thermodynamic theory of superfluid helium in the presence of a heat current is presented. We show that there is a thermodynamic relation between the heat capacity and the expression ps(W), which describes the depression of the superfluid density with the counterflow velocity W. Using this relation we show that the heat capacity of superfluid super4He in the presence of a heat current diverges at a depressed lambda transition temperature, suggesting the possibility of a new second order phase transition where the superfluid wave function is not the order parameter.
Symmetry protected topological superfluid (3)He-B.
Mizushima, Takeshi; Tsutsumi, Yasumasa; Sato, Masatoshi; Machida, Kazushige
Owing to the richness of symmetry and well-established knowledge of bulk superfluidity, the superfluid (3)He has offered a prototypical system to study intertwining of topology and symmetry. This article reviews recent progress in understanding the topological superfluidity of (3)He in a multifaceted manner, including symmetry considerations, the Jackiw-Rebbi's index theorem, and the quasiclassical theory. Special focus is placed on the symmetry protected topological superfuidity of the (3)He-B confined in a slab geometry. The (3)He-B under a magnetic field is separated to two different sub-phases: the symmetry protected topological phase and non-topological phase. The former phase is characterized by the existence of symmetry protected Majorana fermions. The topological phase transition between them is triggered by the spontaneous breaking of a hidden discrete symmetry. The critical field is quantitatively determined from the microscopic calculation that takes account of magnetic dipole interaction of the (3)He nucleus. It is also demonstrated that odd-frequency even-parity Cooper pair amplitudes are emergent in low-lying quasiparticles. The key ingredients, symmetry protected Majorana fermions and odd-frequency pairing, bring an important consequence that the coupling of the surface states to an applied field is prohibited by the hidden discrete symmetry, while the topological phase transition with the spontaneous symmetry breaking is accompanied by anomalous enhancement and anisotropic quantum criticality of surface spin susceptibility. We also illustrate common topological features between topological crystalline superconductors and symmetry protected topological superfluids, taking UPt3 and Rashba superconductors as examples.
Internal Magnus effects in superfluid 3He-A
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salmelin, R. H.; Salomaa, M. M.; Mineev, V. P.
The orbital angular momentum of the coherently aligned Cooper pairs in superfluid (3)He-A is transmitted to an object immersed in the condensate. The authors evaluate the quasiparticle-scattering asymmetry experienced by a negative ion; this leads to a measurable, purely quantum-mechanical Magnus force deflecting the ion's trajectory. Close to T(sub c), possible hydrodynamic Magnus effects are smaller by the factor delta sub A/(k sub B)(T sub c).
Probing the A-B interface of superfluid helium-3
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Haley, Richard
At temperatures around 1 mK helium-3 forms a BCS spin triplet condensate. The order parameter is sufficiently complex that more than one superfluid phase exists, each exhibiting a different broken symmetry, and there is a model first order transition between the two most stable phases, labeled A and B. The Lancaster Ultra-Low Temperature Group has developed techniques to probe the properties of the A-B interface in the deep sub-mK regime where the superfluid is in the pure condensate limit. Shaped and controllable magnetic fields are used to induce the transition, and to stabilize and move the A-B phase boundary inside the experimental volume. The latent heat of the transition has been measured, and the nucleation behavior shown to be incompatible with conventional thermodynamic models. Since superfluid helium-3 is inherently pure, and the order parameter transforms continuously across the A-B interface, it is the most coherent two-dimensional structure to which we have experimental access. It has been proposed that this 2D surface in the surrounding 3D bulk volume is a good analog of a cosmological brane separating two distinct quantum vacuum states; experiments that simulate brane annihilation and the creation of topological defects have been carried out at Lancaster. Other investigations have included measurements of the surface tension and wetting behavior of the interface. During these studies it was discovered that a large, unpredicted frictional force was acting on the interface even though it is moving through a pure superfluid. Recent breakthrough work on the dynamics of the A-B interface has finally solved this puzzle. Current experiments include a setup where the interface region is probed directly using quartz tuning fork resonators that couple to the local density of broken Cooper pair quasiparticle excitations and thus give insight into the order parameter energy gap structure as A transforms to B.
Superfluid density in the slave-boson theory
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhong, Yin; Lu, Han-Tao; Luo, Hong-Gang
Despite of the success of the slave-boson theory in capturing qualitative physics of high-temperature superconductors like cuprates, it fails to reproduce the correct temperature-dependent behavior of superfluid density, let alone the independence of the linear temperature term on doping in the underdoped regimes of hole-doped cuprate, a common experimental observation in different cuprates. It remains puzzling up to now in spite of intensive theoretical efforts. For electron-doped case, even qualitative treatment is not reported at present time. Here we revisit these problems and provide an alternative superfluid density formulation by using the London relation instead of employing the paramagnetic current-current correlation function. The obtained formula, on the one hand, provides the correct temperature-dependent behavior of the superfluid density in the whole temperature regime, on the other hand, makes the doping dependence of the linear temperature term substantially weaken and a possible interpretation for its independence on doping is proposed. As an application, electron-doped cuprate is studied, whose result qualitatively agrees with existing experiments and successfully explains the origin of d- to anisotropic s-wave transition across the optimal doping. Our result remedies some failures of the slave-boson theory as employed to calculate superfluid density in cuprates and may be useful in the understanding of the related physics in other strongly correlated systems, e.g. Na x CoO2· yH2O and certain iron-based superconductors with dominating local magnetic exchange interaction.
Topological Superfluid in P-band Optical Lattice
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, Ya-Jie; He, Jing; Zang, Chun-Li; Kou, Su-Peng
By studying p-band fermionic system with nearest neighbor attractive interaction we find translation symmetry protected Z2 topological superfluid (TSF) that is characterized by a special fermion parity pattern at high symmetry points in momentum space k= (0,0), (0, π), (π, 0), (π, π). Such Z2 TSF supports the robust Majorana edge modes and a new type of low energy excitation - (supersymmetric) Z2 link-excitation.
Textural domain walls in superfluid 3He-B
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mizushima, Takeshi
Owing to the richness of symmetry, the superfluid 3He serves as a rich repository of topological quantum phenomena. This includes the emergence of surface Majorana fermions and their quantum mass acquisition at the topological critical point. Furthermore, the marriage of the prototype topological superfluid with nanofabrication techniques brings about a rich variety of spontaneous symmetry breaking, such as the formation of the stripe order and nontrivial domain walls. In this work, we examine the possible formation of textural domain walls in the superfluid 3He-B confined to a thin slab with a sub-micron thickness. When an applied magnetic field is much higher than the dipolar field, two nearly degenerate ground states appear, which are characterized by the Ising order associated with the spontaneous breaking of a magnetic order-two symmetry, lcirc;z = + 1 and - 1 . We here discuss the structure of the textural domain wall formed by the spatial modulation of the Ising order, such as low-lying quasiparticle excitations and spontaneous spin current. We also report bosonic modes bound to the textural domain wall.

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