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Metastability in spin-polarized Fermi gases
Y A Liao1, M Revelle, T Paprotta
1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Evaporation and particle transport cause superfluid core deformation in ultracold atomic Fermi gases. This nonequilibrium state is metastable, persisting for seconds due to enhanced central evaporation and inhibited spin transport.
Area of Science:
- Atomic physics
- Quantum gases
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Ultracold atomic Fermi gases exhibit complex phase behavior.
- Superfluidity and spin polarization are key properties of these systems.
- Previous studies observed deformation in the superfluid core.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of particle transport and evaporation on phase separation.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind the observed superfluid core deformation.
- To understand the role of nonequilibrium dynamics in atomic Fermi gases.
Main Methods:
- Studying ultracold, spin-polarized atomic Fermi gas.
- Analyzing particle transport phenomena.
- Investigating evaporative cooling and its effects.
- Examining phase separation dynamics.
Main Results:
- Evaporative depolarization drives superfluid core deformation.
- Enhanced evaporation at the trap center and inhibited spin transport at the phase boundary are key.
- A nonequilibrium jump in chemical potentials occurs at the phase boundary.
- The deformed state is highly metastable, lasting up to 2 seconds.
Conclusions:
- Particle transport and evaporation critically influence phase separation.
- Nonequilibrium effects, specifically evaporative depolarization, explain core deformation.
- The observed metastability highlights the complex dynamics of quantum gases.
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The work...

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