Related Experiment Videos
Quantum decoupling transition in a one-dimensional Feshbach-resonant superfluid
Daniel E Sheehy1, Leo Radzihovsky
1Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|October 4, 2005
Summary
In one-dimensional systems, quantum fluctuations can decouple atomic and molecular superfluids, leading to a novel quantum phase transition. This transition affects the Feshbach resonance coupling and has observable experimental signatures.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
- Ultracold atomic gases
Background:
- Fermionic atoms interacting via s-wave molecular Feshbach resonance form two Josephson-coupled Luttinger liquids at low energies.
- These liquids represent paired atomic and molecular superfluids, analogous to systems in higher dimensions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the low-energy behavior of one-dimensional fermionic atoms with Feshbach resonance.
- Characterize the quantum phase transition and its unique properties in one dimension.
- Identify experimental signatures for detecting this transition.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical study of a one-dimensional gas of fermionic atoms.
- Analysis of the system's behavior at low energies, considering Josephson coupling.
- Investigation of quantum fluctuations and their effect on the Feshbach resonance coupling.
Main Results:
- A quantum phase transition occurs where quantum fluctuations suppress the Feshbach resonance (Josephson) coupling.
- This suppression effectively decouples the molecular and atomic superfluids, unlike in higher dimensions.
- The decoupled phase exhibits an out-of-phase gapless mode alongside the in-phase mode in its spectrum.
Conclusions:
- One-dimensional fermionic systems display a unique quantum phase transition driven by quantum fluctuations.
- This transition leads to the decoupling of atomic and molecular superfluids.
- Experimental detection is possible through spectral analysis and momentum distribution measurements.