Itinerant Ferromagnetism in an Ultracold Atom Fermi Gas

Journal Article · Fri Dec 02 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.230403· OSTI ID:20699630

Duine, R A; MacDonald, A H ^[1]

---

1. Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1600, Austin, Texas 78712-0264 (United States)

We address the possible occurrence of ultracold atom ferromagnetism by evaluating the free energy of a spin polarized Fermi gas to second order in its interaction parameter. We find that Hartree-Fock theory underestimates the tendency toward ferromagnetism, predict that the ferromagnetic transition is first order at low temperatures, and point out that the spin coherence time of gases prepared in a ferromagnetic state is strongly enhanced as the transition is approached. We relate our results to recent experiments.

• OSTI ID: 20699630
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 95; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ATOMS
BAND THEORY
FERMI GAS
FERMIONS
FERROMAGNETISM
FREE ENERGY
HARTREE-FOCK METHOD
SPIN