Phase diagram of a strongly interacting polarized Fermi gas in one dimension

TL;DR

This paper explores the phase diagram of one-dimensional polarized Fermi gases with attractive interactions, revealing exotic phase separation states and predicting experimental signatures such as mode frequencies.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed phase diagram using the Gaudin model and local density approximation, identifying novel polarized superfluid states with FFLO structure.

Findings

Phase separation with polarized superfluid core below critical polarization

Coexistence of polarized superfluid and fully polarized normal gas above critical polarization

Predicted mode frequency variations as a function of spin polarization

Abstract

Based on the integrable Gaudin model and local density approximation, we discuss the phase structure of one-dimensional trapped Fermi gases with imbalanced spin populations for arbitrary attractive interactions. A phase separation state, with a polarized superfluid core immersed in an unpolarized superfluid shell, emerges below a critical spin polarization. Above it, a coexistence of polarized superfluid matter and a fully polarized normal gas is favored. These two exotic states could be realized experimentally in highly elongated atomic traps, and diagnosed by measuring the lowest density compressional mode. We identify the polarized superfluid as having an FFLO structure, and predict the resulting mode frequency as a function of the spin polarization.