Investigation of the 3D to 1D Crossover of a Spin- Imbalanced Fermi Gas

POSTER

Abstract

Spin-imbalanced Fermi gases have been investigated in 3D geometries, for which phase separation into normal and superfluid phases has been observed\footnote{G. B. Partridge et al., Science 311, 503-505 (2006); C.H. Schunck et al., Science 316, 867-870 (2007).}. We have implemented a 2D optical lattice, which produces an array of 1D tubes with weak axial confinement and have begun to map out the phase diagram for the imbalanced Fermi gas in 1D. Theory predicts an inverted spatial position of the unpolarized superfluid relative to 3D, occupying the trap edges rather than the trap center\footnote{G. Orso, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 070402 (2007); H. Hu et. al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 070403 (2007).}. We investigate this crossover by tuning lattice depth, which smoothly modifies the inter-tube tunneling.

Authors

  • Tobias Paprotta

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston TX, 77251

  • Yean-an Liao

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston TX, 77251

  • Wenhui Li

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005

  • Ann Sophie Rittner

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston TX, 77251

  • Randall Hulet

    Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston TX, 77251, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University