Normal-Superfluid Interface Scattering for Polarized Fermion Gases

Journal Article · Fri Apr 27 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.170402· OSTI ID:20951264

Schaeybroeck, Bert van; Lazarides, Achilleas ^[1]

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1. Laboratorium voor Vaste-Stoffysica en Magnetisme, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3001 Leuven (Belgium)

We argue that, for the recent experiments with imbalanced fermion gases, a temperature difference may occur between the normal (N) and the gapped superfluid (SF) phase. Using the mean-field formalism, we study particle scattering off the N-SF interface from the deep BCS to the unitary regime. We show that the thermal conductivity across the interface drops exponentially fast with increasing h/k{sub B}T, where h is the chemical potential imbalance. This implies a blocking of thermal equilibration between the N and the SF phase. We also provide a possible mechanism for the creation of gap oscillations [Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO)-like states] as seen in recent studies on these systems.

• OSTI ID: 20951264
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHANNELING
FERMIONS
MEAN-FIELD THEORY
OSCILLATIONS
POTENTIALS
SCATTERING
SUPERFLUIDITY
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY