Rashba spin-orbit coupled atomic Fermi gases

TL;DR

This paper explores the effects of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on Fermi gases, revealing a new bound state and analyzing its condensation, with implications for experimental detection in quantum gases.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of Rashba pairs in Fermi gases and studies their properties and condensation, advancing understanding of spin-orbit effects in quantum many-body systems.

Findings

Discovery of Rashba pairs as a new bound state

Condensation of Rashba pairs into a macroscopic spin state

Proposed experimental signatures for observing Rashba pair condensation

Abstract

We investigate theoretically BEC-BCS crossover physics in the presence of a Rashba spin-orbit coupling in a system of two-component Fermi gas with and without a Zeeman field that breaks the population balance between the two components. A new bound state (Rashba pair) emerges because of the spin-orbit interaction. We study the properties of Rashba pairs using a standard pair fluctuation theory. At zero temperature, the Rashba pairs condense into a macroscopic mixed spin state. We discuss in detail the experimental signatures for observing the condensation of Rashba pairs by calculating various physical observables which characterize the properties of the system and can be measured in experiment.