$F$-wave pairing of cold atoms in optical lattices

TL;DR

This paper proposes realizing $f$-wave superfluid pairing of spinless fermions in honeycomb optical lattices, highlighting the orbital structure's role in unconventional pairing and potential experimental detection methods.

Contribution

It introduces a novel $f$-wave pairing mechanism in cold atom systems based on orbital band structure rather than strong correlations.

Findings

Unconventional $f$-wave pairing with nodal lines identified.

Zero energy Andreev bound states predicted around circular boundaries.

Feasible experimental realization and detection methods discussed.

Abstract

The tremendous development of cold atom physics has opened up a whole new opportunity to study novel states of matter which are not easily accessible in solid state systems. Here we propose to realize the $f$-wave pairing superfluidity of spinless fermions in the $p_{x,y}$-orbital bands of the two dimensional honeycomb optical lattices. The non-trivial orbital band structure rather than strong correlation effects gives rise to the unconventional pairing with the nodal lines of the $f$-wave symmetry. With a confining harmonic trap, zero energy Andreev bound states appear around the circular boundary with a six-fold symmetry. The experimental realization and detection of this novel pairing state are feasible.