Moment of inertia of a trapped superfluid gas of atomic Fermions

TL;DR

This paper calculates how the moment of inertia of a trapped superfluid Fermi gas varies with temperature and trap deformation, proposing measurements to identify superfluidity.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the moment of inertia behavior in superfluid Fermi gases under different conditions, linking rotational properties to superfluid states.

Findings

Moment of inertia approaches irrotational flow at low temperatures.

Near critical temperature, rigid rotation is observed.

Strong trap deformation leads to rigid body moment of inertia even in superfluid state.

Abstract

The moment of inertia of a trapped superfluid gas of atomic Fermions (6Li) is calculated as a function of two system parameters: temperature and deformation of the trap. For moderate deformations at zero temperature the moment of inertia takes on the irrotational flow value. Only for T very close to the critical temperature rigid rotation is attained. For very strong trap deformations the moment of inertia approaches its rigid body value even in the superfluid state. It is proposed that future measurements of the rotational energy will unambiguously reveal whether the system is in a superfluid state or not.