Fermion Species Research Articles

Reactive scattering calculations for (87)Rb+(87)RbHe→Rb2((3)Σ(u)(+),v)+He from ultralow to intermediate energies.

We investigate atom-diatom reactive collisions, as a preliminary step,in order to assess the possibility of forming Rb(2) molecules in their lowest triplet electronic state by cold collisions of rubidium atoms on the surface of helium nanodroplets [corrected]. A simple model related to the well-known Rosen treatment of linear triatomic molecules [N. Rosen, J. Chem. Phys. 1, 319 (1933)] in relative coordinates is used, allowing to estimate reactive probabilities for different values of the total angular momentum. The best available full dimensional potential energy surface [Guillon et al., J. Chem. Phys. 136, 174307 (2012)] is employed through the calculations. Noticeable values of the probabilities in the ultracold regime, which numerically fulfill the Wigner threshold law, support the feasibility of the process. The rubidium dimer is mainly produced at high vibrational states, and the reactivity is more efficient for a bosonic helium partner than when the fermion species is considered.

Fermi-bounce cosmology and the fermion curvaton mechanism

A nonsingular bouncing cosmology can be achieved by introducing a fermion field with BCS condensation occurring at high energy scales. In this paper we are able to dilute the anisotropic stress near the bounce by means of releasing the gap energy density near the phase transition between the radiation and condensate states. In order to explain the nearly scale-invariant CMB spectrum, another fermion field is required. We investigate one possible curvaton mechanism by involving one another fermion field without condensation where the mass is lighter than the background field. We show that, by virtue of the fermion curvaton mechanism, our model can satisfy the latest cosmological observations very well in which the amplitude of the power spectrum of primordial curvature perturbation is determined by a ratio between the masses of two fermion species.

A first test of the framed standard model against experiment

The framed standard model (FSM) is obtained from the standard model by incorporating, as field variables, the frame vectors (vielbeins) in internal symmetry space. It gives the standard Higgs boson and 3 generations of quarks and leptons as immediate consequences. It gives moreover a fermion mass matrix of the form: m = mTαα†, where α is a vector in generation space independent of the fermion species and rotating with changing scale, which has already been shown to lead, generically, to up–down mixing, neutrino oscillations and mass hierarchy. In this paper, pushing the FSM further, one first derives to 1-loop order the RGE for the rotation of α, and then applies it to fit mass and mixing data as a first test of the model. With 7 real adjustable parameters, 18 measured quantities are fitted, most (12) to within experimental error or to better than 0.5 percent, and the rest (6) not far off. (A summary of this fit can be found in Table 2 of this paper.) Two notable features, both generic to FSM, not just specific to the fit, are: (i) that a theta-angle of order unity in the instanton term in QCD would translate via rotation into a Kobayashi–Maskawa phase in the CKM matrix of about the observed magnitude (J ~ 10-5), (ii) that it would come out correctly that mu < md, despite the fact that mt ≫ mb, mc ≫ ms. Of the 18 quantities fitted, 12 are deemed independent in the usual formulation of the standard model. In fact, the fit gives a total of 17 independent parameters of the standard model, but 5 of these have not been measured by experiment.

Correlations and synchronization in a Bose–Fermi mixture

We study a Bose–Fermi mixture within the framework of the mean-field theory, including three possible regimes for the fermionic species: fully polarized, BCS, and unitarity. Starting from the 3D description and using the variational approximation (VA), we derive one-dimensional and two-dimensional systems of equations, under the corresponding confining potentials. This method produces a pair of nonlinear Schrödinger equations coupled to algebraic equations for the transverse widths of the confined state. The equations incorporate interactions between atoms of the same species and between the species, assuming that the latter can be manipulated by means of the Feshbach resonance. As an application, we explore spatial density correlations in the ground state (GS) between the species, concluding that they strongly depend on the sign and strength of the inter-species interaction. Also studied are the dynamics of the mixture in a vicinity of the GS and the corresponding spatiotemporal inter-species correlation. The correlations are strongly affected by the fermionic component, featuring the greatest variation in the unitary regime. Results produced by the VA are verified by comparison with full numerical solutions.

Sarma phase in relativistic and non-relativistic systems

We investigate the stability of the Sarma phase in two-component fermion systems in three spatial dimensions. For this purpose we compare strongly-correlated systems with either relativistic or non-relativistic dispersion relation: relativistic quarks and mesons at finite isospin density and spin-imbalanced ultracold Fermi gases. Using a Functional Renormalization Group approach, we resolve fluctuation effects onto the corresponding phase diagrams beyond the mean-field approximation. We find that fluctuations induce a second-order phase transition at zero temperature, and thus a Sarma phase, in the relativistic setup for large isospin chemical potential. This motivates the investigation of the cold atoms setup with comparable mean-field phase structure, where the Sarma phase could then be realized in experiment. However, for the non-relativistic system we find the stability region of the Sarma phase to be smaller than the one predicted from mean-field theory. It is limited to the BEC side of the phase diagram, and the unitary Fermi gas does not support a Sarma phase at zero temperature. Finally, we propose an ultracold quantum gas with four fermion species that has a good chance to realize a zero-temperature Sarma phase.

Fermionic suppression of dipolar relaxation.

We observe the suppression of inelastic dipolar scattering in ultracold Fermi gases of the highly magnetic atom dysprosium: the more energy that is released, the less frequently these exothermic reactions take place, and only quantum spin statistics can explain this counterintuitive effect. Inelastic dipolar scattering in nonzero magnetic fields leads to heating or to loss of the trapped population, both detrimental to experiments intended to study quantum many-body physics with strongly dipolar gases. Fermi statistics, however, is predicted to lead to a kinematic suppression of these harmful reactions. Indeed, we observe a 120-fold suppression of dipolar relaxation in fermionic versus bosonic Dy, as expected from theory describing universal inelastic dipolar scattering, though never before experimentally confirmed. Similarly, low inelastic cross sections are observed in spin mixtures, also with striking correspondence to predictions. The suppression of relaxation opens the possibility of employing fermionic dipolar species in studies of quantum many-body physics involving, e.g., synthetic gauge fields and pairing.

Holographic D3-probe-D5 model of a double layer Dirac semimetal

The possibility of inter-layer exciton condensation in a holographic D3-probe-D5 brane model of a strongly coupled double monolayer Dirac semi-metal in a magnetic field is studied in detail. It is found that, when the charge densities on the layers are exactly balanced so that, at weak coupling, the Fermi surfaces of electrons in one monolayer and holes in the other monolayer would be perfectly nested, inter-layer condensates can form for any separation of the layers. The case where both monolayers are charge neutral is special. There, the inter-layer condensate occurs only for small separations and is replaced by an intra-layer exciton condensate at larger separations. The phase diagram for charge balanced monolayers for a range layer separations and chemical potentials is found. We also show that, in semi-metals with multiple species of massless fermions, the balance of charges required for Fermi surface nesting can occur spontaneously by breaking some of the internal symmetry of the monolayers. This could have important consequences for experimental attempts to find inter-layer condensates.

Quasiparticle renormalization inABCgraphene trilayers

We investigate the effect of electron-electron interactions in $ABC$-stacked graphene trilayers. In the gapless regime, we show that the self-energy corrections lead to the renormalization of the dynamical exponent $z=3+{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}/N$, with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}\ensuremath{\approx}0.52$ and $N$ is the number of fermionic species. Although the quasiparticle residue is suppressed near the neutrality point, the lifetime has a sublinear scaling with the energy and the quasiparticles are well defined even at zero energy. We calculate the renormalization of a variety of physical observables, which can be directly measured in experiments.

Half-integer quantum Hall effect of disordered Dirac fermions at a topological insulator surface

The unconventional (half-integer) quantum Hall effect for a single species of Dirac fermions is analyzed. We discuss possible experimental measurements of the half-integer Hall conductance $g_{xy}$ of topological insulator surface states and explain how to reconcile Laughlin's flux insertion argument with half-integer $g_{xy}$. Using a vortex state representation of Landau Level wavefunctions, we calculate current density beyond linear response, which is in particular relevant to the topological image monopole effect. As a major result, the field theory describing the localization physics of the quantum Hall effect of a single species of Dirac fermions is derived. In this connection, the issue of (absent) parity anomaly is revisited. The renormalization group flow (RG) and the resulting phase diagram are extensively discussed. Starting values of the RG flow are given by the semiclassical conductivity tensor which is obtained from the Boltzmann transport theory of the anomalous Hall effect.

Non-perturbative dynamics, pair condensation, confinement and dynamical masses in massless QED2+1

Quantum electrodynamics in three spacetime dimensions, with one massless fermion species in a two-spinor representation, is studied using a non-perturbative variational approach. Quantization of the theory follows Diracʼs Hamiltonian procedure, with a gauge invariant factorization of the physical degrees of freedom. Due to pair condensation in the vacuum state, the symmetry of parity is spontaneously broken. As a consequence, fermionic quasi-particles propagating in the condensate can be identified and are seen to possess a confining dynamical mass, while the propagating physical electromagnetic mode also acquires a non-vanishing dynamical mass. The issues of gauge invariance and confinement of the constituent fermions are carefully discussed.

Zero-temperature equation of state and phase diagram of repulsive fermionic mixtures

We compute the zero-temperature equation of state of a mixture of two fermionic atomic species with repulsive interspecies interactions using second-order perturbation theory. We vary the interaction strength, the population, and the mass imbalance, and we analyze the competition between different states: homogeneous, partially separated, and fully separated. The canonical phase diagrams are determined for various mass ratios, including the experimentally relevant case of the $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$-$^{40}\mathrm{K}$ mixture. We find substantial differences with respect to the equal-mass case: phase separation occurs at weaker interaction strength, and the partially separated state can be stable even in the limit of a large majority of heavy atoms. We highlight the effects due to correlations by making comparisons with previous mean-field results.

Interference-induced magnetoresistance in HgTe quantum wells

We study the quantum interference correction to the conductivity in HgTe quantum wells using the Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model. This model consists of two independent species (blocks) of massive Dirac fermions. We describe the crossover between the orthogonal and symplectic classes with increasing the carrier concentration and calculate, respectively, weak localization and antilocalization corrections in the absence of the block mixing and assuming the white-noise disorder within each block. We have calculated the interference-induced magnetoresistance in a wide interval of magnetic fields, in particular, beyond the diffusion regime. Remarkably, each Dirac cone taken separately gives a linear contribution to the low-field magnetoresistance, which turns out to be asymmetric in magnetic field $B$. We present an interpretation of this result in terms of the Berry-phase formalism. The contributions of the two blocks are related to each other by replacing $B$ to $\ensuremath{-}B$, so that the total magnetoresistance is symmetric and parabolic in the limit $B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. However, in some range of parameters, field dependence turns out to be strongly nonmonotonous. We also demonstrate that block mixing gives rise to additional singular diffusive modes which do not show up in the absence of mixing.

Detection of Chern numbers and entanglement in topological two-species systems through subsystem winding numbers

Topological invariants, such as the Chern number, characterize topological phases of matter. Here we provide a method to detect Chern numbers in systems with two distinct species of fermion, such as spins, orbitals or several atomic states. We analytically show that the Chern number can be decomposed as a sum of component specific winding numbers, which are themselves physically observable. We apply this method to two systems, the quantum spin Hall insulator and a staggered topological superconductor, and show that (spin) Chern numbers are accurately reproduced. The measurements required for constructing the component winding numbers also enable one to probe the entanglement spectrum with respect to component partitions. Our method is particularly suited to experiments with cold atoms in optical lattices where time-of-flight images can give direct access to the relevant observables.

Dxy-density wave in fermion-fermion cold-atom mixtures

We study density wave instabilities in a doubly-degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture with $SU(2)\times SU(2)$ symmetry on a square lattice. For sufficiently large on-site inter-species repulsion, when the two species of fermions are both at half-filling, two conventional ($s$-wave) number density waves are formed with a $\pi$-phase difference between them to minimize the inter-species repulsion. Upon moving one species away from half-filling, an unconventional density wave with $d_{xy}$-wave symmetry emerges. When both species are away from the vicinity of half-filling, superconducting instabilities dominate. We present results of a functional renormalization-group calculation that maps out the phase diagram at weak couplings. Also, we provide a simple explanation for the emergence of the $d_{xy}$-density wave phase based on a four-patch model. We find a robust and general mechanism for $d_{xy}$-density-wave formation that is related to the shape and size of the Fermi surfaces. The density imbalance between the two species of fermions in the vicinity of half-filling leads to phase-space discrepancy for different inter-species Umklapp couplings. Using a phase space argument for leading corrections in the one-loop renormalization group approach to fermions, we show that the phase-space discrepancy in our system causes opposite flows for the two leading intra-species Umklapp couplings and that this triggers the $d_{xy}$-density-wave instability.

Non-Abelian Chern-Simons theory from a Hubbard-like model

Here, we provide a simple Hubbard-like model of spin-$1/2$ fermions that gives rise to the SU(2) symmetric Thirring model that is equivalent, in the low-energy limit, to Yang-Mills-Chern-Simons model. First, we identify the regime that simulates the SU(2) Yang-Mills theory. Then, we suitably extend this model so that it gives rise to the SU(2) level $k$ Chern-Simons theory with $k\geq2$ that can support non-Abelian anyons. This is achieved by introducing multiple fermionic species and modifying the Thirring interactions, while preserving the SU(2) symmetry. Our proposal provides the means to theoretically and experimentally probe non-Abelian SU(2) level $k$ topological phases.

Controlled calculation of the thermal conductivity for a spinon Fermi surface coupled to a [formula omitted] gauge field

Motivated by recent transport measurements on the candidate spin-liquid phase of the organic triangular lattice insulator EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2, we perform a controlled calculation of the thermal conductivity at intermediate temperatures in a spin liquid system where a spinon Fermi surface is coupled to a U(1) gauge field. The present computation builds upon the double expansion approach developed by Mross et al. (2010) for small ϵ=zb−2 (where zb is the dynamical critical exponent of the gauge field) and large number of fermionic species N. Using the so-called memory matrix formalism that most crucially does not assume the existence of well-defined quasiparticles at low energies in the system, we calculate the temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity κ of this model due to non-critical Umklapp scattering of the spinons for a finite N and small ϵ. Then we discuss the physical implications of such theoretical result in connection with the experimental data available in the literature.

Variational wavefunction for multi-species spinful fermionic superfluids and superconductors

We introduce a new fermionic variational wavefunction, generalizing the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) wavefunction, which is suitable for interacting multi-species spinful systems and sustaining superfluidity. Applications range from quark matter to the high temperature superconductors. A wide class of Hamiltonians, comprising interactions and hybridization of arbitrary momentum dependence between different fermion species, can be treated in a comprehensive manner. This is the case, as both the intra-species and the inter-species interactions are treated on equally rigorous footing, which is accomplished via the introduction of a new quantum index attached to the fermions. The index is consistent with known fermionic physics, and allows for heretofore unaccounted fermion–fermion correlations. We have derived the finite temperature version of the theory, thus obtaining the renormalized quasiparticle dispersion relations, and we discuss the appearance of charge and spin density wave order.We present numerical solutions for two electron species in 2 dimensions. Based on these solutions, we show that, for equivalent spin up and down fermions, the Fermi occupation factor (per spin) equals 1/2 deep in the Fermi sea. This constitutes a unique experimental prediction of the theory, both for the normal and superfluid states. Interestingly, this result, obtained in the thermodynamic limit, is consistent with Fermi occupation factor (in-)equalities for finite systems of electrons, derived (in a different context) by Borland and Dennis (1972) and by Altunbulak and Klyachko (2008).

Consistency and universality in odd and even dimensional space–time QFT perturbative calculations

The questions related to the consistent interpretation of QFT perturbative amplitudes are considered in light of a novel procedure, alternative to the traditional ones based on regularization prescriptions. A detailed discussion about the aspects associated to the space–time dimension is performed. For this purpose, it is considered a simple model having a fermionic vector current, coupled to a vector field, as well as a fermionic scalar current, coupled to a scalar field, both of them composed by different species of massive fermions. The referred currents are related in a precise way, which is reflected in the Ward identities for the perturbative physical amplitudes. The double vector two-point fermionic function, related to the vacuum polarization tensor of QED, as well as the amplitudes related to such quantity through relations among Green functions are explicit evaluated in space–time dimensions d = 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. In the adopted procedure the perturbative amplitudes are not modified in intermediary steps of the calculations, as occurs in regularization procedures. Divergent Feynman integrals are not really solved. They appear only in standard objects, conveniently defined, where no physical parameter is present. Only very general properties for such quantities are assumed. For the finite parts, a set of functions is introduced which allows universal forms for the results. We show that scale independent, ambiguity free amplitudes are automatically obtained in a regularization independent way. As a consequence, interesting and, in certain way, surprising aspects are revealed in a clear and transparent way when the Ward identities and low-energy limits are verified for the simple amplitudes considered in the presently reported investigation. The obtained results suggest that the procedure can be considered as an advantageous tool to handle with the problem of divergences in perturbative solutions of QFT's, relative to the traditional regularization techniques, since the obtained results are so consistent as desirable and there are no limitations of applicability. In particular, the method can be applied in odd and even space–time dimensions having extra dimensions, which is not possible within the context of traditional regularization.

Emergent nontrivial lattices for topological insulators

Materials with non-trivial lattice geometries allow for the creation of exotic states of matter like topologically insulating states. Therefore searching for such materials is an important aspect of current research in solid-state physics. In the field of ultracold gases there are ongoing studies aiming to create non-trivial lattices using optical means. In this paper we study two species of fermions trapped in a square optical lattice and show how non-trivial lattices can emerge due to strong interaction between atoms. We theoretically investigate regimes of tunable parameters in which such self-assembly may take place and describe the necessary experimental conditions. Moreover we discuss the possibility of such emergent lattices hosting topologically insulating states.

Solution to sign problems in half-filled spin-polarized electronic systems

We solve the sign problem in a particle-hole symmetric spin-polarized fermion model on bipartite lattices using the idea of fermion bags. The solution can be extended to a class of models at half filling but without particle-hole symmetry. Attractive Hubbard models with an odd number of fermion species can also be solved. Our solutions should allow us to study quantum phase transitions that have remained unexplored so far due to sign problems.