Coupled First-Order Transitions In A Fermi-Bose Mixture

TL;DR

This paper introduces a model of a Fermi-Bose mixture on a 2D lattice with composite hopping, revealing coupled first-order phase transitions and rich phenomena like van Hove singularities, density waves, and negative bulk modulus.

Contribution

It presents a novel mean-field analysis of a Fermi-Bose lattice model with composite hopping, uncovering coupled first-order transitions and detailed Fermi surface evolution.

Findings

Coupled first-order transitions at specific filling fractions.

Maximum superfluid and fermion density of states at half-filling.

Vanishing and negative bulk modulus indicating mechanical instability.

Abstract

A model of a mixture of spinless fermions and spin-zero hardcore bosons, with filling fractions $\rho_F$ and $\rho_B$, respectively, on a two-dimensional square lattice with {\em composite} hopping $t$ is presented. In this model, hopping swaps the locations of a fermion and a boson at nearest-neighbor sites. When $\rho_F+\rho_B=1$, the fermion hopping amplitude $\phi$ and boson superfluid amplitude $\psi$ are calculated in the ground state within a mean-field approximation. The Fermi sector is insulating ($\phi=0$) and the Bose sector is normal ($\psi=0$) for $0 \le \rho_F < \rho_c$. The model has {\em coupled first-order} transitions at $\rho_F = \rho_c \simeq 0.3$ where both $\phi$ and $\psi$ are discontinuous. The Fermi sector is metallic ($\phi>0$) and the Bose sector is superfluid ($\psi>0$) for $\rho_c < \rho_F < 1$. At $\rho_F=1/2$, fermion density of states $\rho$ has a van Hove singularity, the bulk modulus $\kappa$ displays a cusp-like singularity, the system has a density wave (DW) order, and $\phi$ and $\psi$ are maximum. At $\rho_F=\rho_{\kappa} \simeq 0.81$, $\kappa$ vanishes, becoming {\em negative} for $\rho_{\kappa}<\rho_F<1$. The role of composite hopping in the evolution of Fermi band dispersions and Fermi surfaces as a function of $\rho_F$ is highlighted. The estimate for BEC critical temperature is in the subkelvin range for ultracold atom systems and several hundred kelvins for possible solid-state examples of the model.