Spontaneous generation of spin-orbit coupling in magnetic dipolar Fermi gases

TL;DR

This paper predicts that magnetic dipolar Fermi gases can spontaneously develop spin-orbit coupling, leading to a new phase with Rashba-like spin textures, expanding understanding of quantum phase transitions in such systems.

Contribution

It introduces the possibility of spontaneous spin-orbit coupling in dipolar Fermi gases, a phenomenon not previously identified in this context.

Findings

Identification of a new instability towards spin-orbit coupled phase

Phase diagram illustrating stability regions

Discussion of implications for quantum many-body physics

Abstract

The stability of an unpolarized two-component dipolar Fermi gas is studied within mean-field theory. Besides the known instability towards spontaneous magnetization with Fermi sphere deformation, another instability towards spontaneous formation of a spin-orbit coupled phase with a Rashba-like spin texture is found. A phase diagram is presented and consequences are briefly discussed.