Phase space deformation of a trapped dipolar Fermi gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how dipole-dipole interactions deform the phase space and Fermi surface of a trapped spin-polarized Fermi gas, highlighting the role of exchange interactions in stability.

Contribution

It introduces a variational Wigner function approach to analyze phase space deformation and stability in dipolar Fermi gases, emphasizing the Fock exchange effect.

Findings

Fermi surface becomes non-spherical due to dipolar interactions

Exchange interactions significantly influence system stability

Phase space deformation depends on interaction strength

Abstract

We consider a system of quantum degenerate spin polarized fermions in a harmonic trap at zero temperature, interacting via dipole-dipole forces. We introduce a variational Wigner function to describe the deformation and compression of the Fermi gas in phase space and use it to examine the stability of the system. We emphasize the important roles played by the Fock exchange term of the dipolar interaction which results in a non-spherical Fermi surface.