Density correlation functions and the spatial structure of the two-dimensional BEC-BCS crossover

Abstract

The spatial structure of a two-dimensional homogeneous mixture of fermionic atoms in two hyperfine states is analyzed throughout the BEC-BCS crossover. Within the BCS-Leggett mean-field model we consider three functions: the pair wave function and the density-density correlation functions between atoms of the same and of different hyperfine states. For the correlation functions we derive analytical expressions which allow to unveil the rich spatial structure of the superfluid. Mainly, we are able to study the large-distance behavior of the three functions, which exhibits an exponential decay and a well-defined oscillatory behavior. We report closed-form expressions for the correlation lengths and mean pair radius. Differences and similarities emerge when comparing with the three dimensional case. Particularly, we find an expression for the large-distance correlation length, in terms of the chemical potential and the gap, valid in two and three dimensions, but whose dependence on the corresponding scattering lengths differ significantly.