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Wilhelm Zwerger

Publications and source records attributed to Wilhelm Zwerger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Reflections on dipolar quantum fluids

We present a thermodynamic description of ultracold gases with dipolar interactions which properly accounts for the long-range nature and broken rotation invariance of the interactions. It involves an additional thermodynamic field conjugate to the linear extension of the gas along the direction of the dipoles. The associated uniaxial pressure shows up as a deviation from the Gibbs-Duhem relation in the density profile of a trapped gas. It has to vanish in self-bound droplets, a condition which determines the observed dependence of the aspect ratio on particle number. A tensorial generalization of the virial theorem and a number of further exact thermodynamic relations are derived. Finally, extending a model due to Nozi\`eres, a simple criterion for the freezing transition to a superfluid mass density wave is given.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Irreversible entropy transport enhanced by fermionic superfluidity

The nature of particle and entropy flow between two superfluids is often understood in terms of reversible flow carried by an entropy-free, macroscopic wavefunction. While this wavefunction is responsible for many intriguing properties of superfluids and superconductors, its interplay with excitations in non-equilibrium situations is less understood. Here, we observe large concurrent flows of both particles and entropy through a ballistic channel connecting two strongly interacting fermionic superfluids. Both currents respond nonlinearly to chemical potential and temperature biases. We find that the entropy transported per particle is much larger than the prediction of superfluid hydrodynamics in the linear regime and largely independent of changes in the channel's geometry. In contrast, the timescales of advective and diffusive entropy transport vary significantly with the channel geometry. In our setting, superfluidity counterintuitively increases the speed of entropy transport. Moreover, we develop a phenomenological model describing the nonlinear dynamics within the framework of generalised gradient dynamics. Our approach for measuring entropy currents may help elucidate mechanisms of heat transfer in superfluids and superconducting devices.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Scale Invariance in the Lowest Landau Level

We show that the discrete set of pair amplitudes $A_m$ introduced by Haldane are an angular-momentum resolved generalization of the Tan two-body contact, which parametrizes universal short-range correlations in atomic quantum gases. The pair amplitudes provide a complete description of translation-invariant and rotation-invariant states in the lowest Landau level (LLL), both compressible and incompressible. To leading nontrivial order beyond the non-interacting high-temperature limit, they are determined analytically in terms of the Haldane pseudopotential parameters $V_m$, which provides a qualitative description of the crossover towards incompressible ground states for different filling factors. Moreover, we show that for contact interactions $\sim g_2 δ^{(2)}({\bf x})$, which are scale invariant at the classical level, the non-commutativity of the guiding center coordinates gives rise to a quantum anomaly in the commutator $i [\hat{H}_{\rm LLL}, \hat{D}_R] = (2 + \ell \partial_\ell) \hat{H}_{\rm LLL}$ with the dilatation operator $\hat{D}_R$ in the LLL, which replaces the trace anomaly in the absence of a magnetic field. The interaction-induced breaking of scale invariance gives rise to a finite frequency shift of the breathing mode in a harmonic trap, which describes transitions between different Landau levels, the strength of which is estimated in terms of the relevant dimensionless coupling constant $\tilde{g}_2$.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Hydrodynamics of a superfluid smectic

We determine the hydrodynamic modes of the superfluid analog of a smectic-A phase in liquid crystals, i.e., a state in which both gauge invariance and translational invariance along a single direction are spontaneously broken. Such a superfluid smectic provides an idealized description of the incommensurate supersolid state realized in Bose-Einstein condensates with strong dipolar interactions as well as of the stripe phase in Bose gases with spin-orbit coupling. We show that the presence of a finite normal fluid density in the ground state of these systems gives rise to a well-defined second-sound type mode even at zero temperature. It replaces the diffusive permeation mode of a normal smectic phase and is directly connected with the classic description of supersolids by Andreev and Lifshitz in terms of a propagating defect mode. An analytic expression is derived for the two sound velocities that appear in the longitudinal excitation spectrum. It only depends on the low-energy parameters associated with the two independent broken symmetries, which are the effective layer compression modulus and the superfluid fraction.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Universal relations for dipolar quantum gases

We establish that two-dimensional dipolar quantum gases admit a universal description, i.e., their thermodynamic properties are independent of details of the interaction at short distances. The only relevant parameters are the dipole length as well as the scattering length of the combined short-range plus dipolar interaction potential. We derive adiabatic relations that link the change in the thermodynamic potentials with respect to the scattering length and the dipole length to a generalized Tan contact parameter and a new dipolar contact, which involves an integral of a short-distance regularized pair distribution function. These two quantities determine the scale anomaly in the difference between pressure and energy density and also the internal energy in the presence of a harmonic confinement. For a weak transverse confinement, configurations with attractive interactions appear, which lead to a density-wave instability beyond a critical strength of the dipolar interaction. We show that this instability essentially coincides with the onset of a roton minimum in the excitation spectrum and may be understood in terms of a quantum analog of the Hansen-Verlet criterion for freezing of a classical fluid.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Quantum critical thermal transport in the unitary Fermi gas

Strongly correlated systems are often associated with an underlying quantum critical point which governs their behavior in the finite temperature phase diagram. Their thermodynamical and transport properties arise from critical fluctuations and follow universal scaling laws. Here, we develop a microscopic theory of thermal transport in the quantum critical regime expressed in terms of a thermal sum rule and an effective scattering time. We explicitly compute the characteristic scaling functions in a quantum critical model system, the unitary Fermi gas. Moreover, we derive an exact thermal sum rule for heat and energy currents and evaluate it numerically using the nonperturbative Luttinger-Ward approach. For the thermal scattering times we find a simple quantum critical scaling form. Together, the sum rule and the scattering time determine the heat conductivity, thermal diffusivity, Prandtl number and sound diffusivity from high temperatures down into the quantum critical regime. The results provide a quantitative description of recent sound attenuation measurements in ultracold Fermi gases.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Critical Josephson current in BCS-BEC crossover superfluids

We develop a microscopic model to describe the Josephson dynamics between two superfluid reservoirs of ultracold fermionic atoms which accounts for the dependence of the critical current on both the barrier height and the interaction strength along the crossover from BCS to BEC. Building on a previous study [F. Meier & W. Zwerger, Phys. Rev. A, 64 033610 (2001)] of weakly-interacting bosons, we derive analytic results for the Josephson critical current at zero temperature for homogeneous and trapped systems at arbitrary coupling. The critical current exhibits a maximum near the unitarity limit which arises from the competition between the increasing condensate fraction and a decrease of the chemical potential along the evolution from the BCS to the BEC limit. Our results agree quantitatively with numerical simulations and recent experimental data.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Quantum unbinding near a zero temperature liquid-gas transition

We discuss the quantum phase transition from a liquid to a gaseous ground state in a Bose fluid with increasing strength of the zero point motion. It is shown that in the zero pressure limit, the two different ground states are separated by a quantum tricritical point whose position is determined by a vanishing two-body scattering length. In the presence of a finite three-body scattering amplitude, the superfluid gas at this point exhibits sound modes whose velocity scales linearly with density while the compressibility diverges $\sim p^{-1/3}$ in the limit of vanishing pressure $p$. In the liquid regime of negative scattering lengths, it is shown that $N$-body bound states exist up to arbitrary $N$, consistent with a theorem by Seiringer. The asymptotic scaling $a_{-}(N)\sim N^{-1/2}$ of the scattering lengths where they appear from the continuum is determined from a finite size scaling analysis in the vicinity of the quantum tricritical point. This also provides a qualitative understanding of numerical results for the quantum unbinding of small clusters.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Universal phase diagram and scaling functions of imbalanced Fermi gases

We discuss the phase diagram and the universal scaling functions of attractive Fermi gases at finite imbalance. The existence of a quantum multicritical point for the unitary gas at vanishing chemical potential $μ$ and effective magnetic field $h$, first discussed by Nikolić and Sachdev, gives rise to three different phase diagrams, depending on whether the inverse scattering length $1/a$ is negative, positive or zero. Within a Luttinger-Ward formalism, the phase diagram and pressure of the unitary gas is calculated as a function of the dimensionless scaling variables $T/μ$ and $h/μ$. The results indicate that beyond the Clogston-Chandrasekhar limit at $(h/μ)_c\simeq 1.09$, the unitary gas exhibits an inhomogeneous superfluid phase with FFLO order that can reach critical temperatures near unitarity of $\simeq 0.03\, T_F$.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Collective excitations and supersolid behavior of bosonic atoms inside two crossed optical cavities

We discuss the nature of symmetry breaking and the associated collective excitations for a system of bosons coupled to the electromagnetic field of two optical cavities. For the specific configuration realized in a recent experiment at ETH, we show that, in absence of direct intercavity scattering and for parameters chosen such that the atoms couple symmetrically to both cavities, the system possesses an approximate $U(1)$ symmetry which holds asymptotically for vanishing cavity field intensity. It corresponds to the invariance with respect to redistributing the total intensity $I=I_1+I_2$ between the two cavities. The spontaneous breaking of this symmetry gives rise to a broken continuous translation-invariance for the atoms, creating a supersolid-like order in the presence of a Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we show that atom-mediated scattering between the two cavities, which favors the state with equal light intensities $I_1=I_2$ and reduces the symmetry to $\mathbf{Z}_2\otimes \mathbf{Z}_2$, gives rise to a finite value $\sim \sqrt{I}$ of the effective Goldstone mass. For strong atom driving, this low energy mode is clearly separated from an effective Higgs excitation associated with changes of the total intensity $I$. In addition, we compute the spectral distribution of the cavity light field and show that both the Higgs and Goldstone mode acquire a finite lifetime due to Landau damping at non-zero temperature.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Efimov states near a Feshbach resonance and the limits of van der Waals universality at finite background scattering length

We calculate the spectrum of three-body Efimov bound states near a Feshbach resonance within a model which accounts both for the finite range of interactions and the presence of background scattering. The latter may be due to direct interactions in an open channel or a second overlapping Feshbach resonance. It is found that background scattering gives rise to substantial changes in the trimer spectrum as a function of the detuning away from a Feshbach resonance, in particular in the regime where the background channel supports Efimov states on its own. Compared to the situation with negligible background scattering, the regime where van der Waals universality applies is shifted to larger values of the resonance strength if the background scattering length is positive. For negative background scattering lengths, in turn, van der Waals universality extends to even small values of the resonance strength parameter, consistent with experimental results on Efimov states in $^{39}$K. Within a simple model, we show that short-range three-body forces do not affect van der Waals universality significantly. Repulsive three-body forces may, however, explain the observed variation between around $-8$ and $-10$ of the ratio between the scattering length where the first Efimov trimer appears and the van der Waals length.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Deep inelastic scattering on ultracold gases

We discuss Bragg scattering on both Bose and Fermi gases with strong short-range interactions in the deep inelastic regime of large wave vector transfer $q$, where the dynamic structure factor is dominated by a resonance near the free-particle energy $\hbarω=\varepsilon_{\bf q}=\hbar^2q^2/2m$. Using a systematic short-distance expansion, the structure factor at high momentum is shown to exhibit a nontrivial dependence on frequency characterized by two separate scaling regimes. First, for frequencies that differ from the single-particle energy by terms of order ${\cal O}(q)$ (i.e., small deviations compared to the single-particle energy), the dynamic structure factor is described by the impulse approximation of Hohenberg and Platzman. Second, deviations of order ${\cal O}(q^2)$ (i.e., of the same order or larger than the single-particle energy) are described by the operator product expansion, with a universal crossover connecting both regimes. The scaling is consistent with a number of sum rules in the large momentum limit. Furthermore, we derive an exact expression for the shift and width of the single-particle peak at large momentum due to interactions, thus extending a result by Beliaev [JETP 7, 299 (1958)] for the low-density Bose gas to arbitrary values of the scattering length $a$. The shift exhibits a maximum around $qa \simeq 1$, which is connected with a maximum in the static structure factor due to strong short-range correlations. For Bose gases with moderate interaction strengths, the theoretically predicted shift is consistent with the value observed by Papp et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 135301 (2008)]. Finally, we develop a diagrammatic theory for the dynamic structure factor which accounts for the correlations beyond Bogoliubov theory and which covers the full range of momenta and frequencies, showing the correct asymptotic scaling at large momentum.

cond-mat.quant-gas

FFLO strange metal and quantum criticality in two dimensions: theory and application to organic superconductors

Increasing the spin imbalance in superconductors can spatially modulate the gap by forming Cooper pairs with finite momentum. For large imbalances compared to the Fermi energy, the inhomogeneous FFLO superconductor ultimately becomes a normal metal. There is mounting experimental evidence for this scenario in 2D organic superconductors in large in-plane magnetic fields; this is complemented by ongoing efforts to realize this scenario in coupled tubes of atomic Fermi gases with spin imbalance. Yet, a theory for the phase transition from a metal to an FFLO superconductor has not been developed so far and the universality class has remained unknown. Here we propose and analyze a spin imbalance driven quantum critical point between a 2D metal and an FFLO phase in anisotropic electron systems. We derive the effective action for electrons and bosonic FFLO pairs at this quantum phase transition. Using this action, we predict non-Fermi liquid behavior and the absence of quasi-particles at a discrete set of hot spots on the Fermi surfaces. This results in strange power-laws in thermodynamics and response functions, which are testable with existing experimental set-ups on 2D organic superconductors and may also serve as signatures of the elusive FFLO phase itself. The proposed universality class is distinct from previously known quantum critical metals and, because its critical fluctuations appear already in the pairing channel, a promising candidate for naked metallic quantum criticality over extended temperature ranges.

cond-mat.str-el

Short-distance properties of Coulomb systems

We use the operator product expansion to derive exact results for the momentum distribution and the static structure factor at high momentum for a jellium model of electrons in both two and three dimensions. It is shown that independent of the precise state of the Coulomb system and for arbitrary temperatures, the asymptotic behavior is a power law in the momentum, whose strength is determined by the contact value of the pair distribution function $g(0)$. The power-law tails are quantum effects which vanish in the classical limit $\hbar \to 0$. A leading order virial expansion shows that the classical and the high-temperature limit do not agree.

cond-mat.str-el

Bose-Einstein Condensation versus Dicke-Hepp-Lieb Transition in an Optical Cavity

We provide an exact solution for the interplay between Bose-Einstein condensation and the Dicke-Hepp-Lieb self-organization transition of an ideal Bose gas trapped inside a single-mode optical cavity and subject to a transverse laser drive. Based on an effective action approach, we determine the full phase diagram at arbitrary temperature, which features a bi-critical point where the transitions cross. We calculate the dynamically generated band structure of the atoms and the associated supression of the critical temperature for Bose-Einstein condensation in the phase with a spontaneous periodic density modulation. Moreover, we determine the evolution of the polariton spectrum due to the coupling of the cavity photons and the atomic field near the self-organization transition, which is quite different above or below the Bose-Einstein condensation temperature. At low temperatures, the critical value of the Dicke-Hepp-Lieb transition decreases with temperature and thus thermal fluctuations can enhance the tendency to a periodic arrangement of the atoms.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Non-local order in Mott insulators, Duality and Wilson Loops

It is shown that the Mott insulating and superfluid phases of bosons in an optical lattice may be distinguished by a non-local 'parity order parameter' which is directly accessible via single site resolution imaging. In one dimension, the lattice Bose model is dual to a classical interface roughening problem. We use known exact results from the latter to prove that the parity order parameter exhibits long range order in the Mott insulating phase, consistent with recent experiments by Endres et al. [Science 334, 200 (2011)]. In two spatial dimensions, the parity order parameter can be expressed in terms of an equal time Wilson loop of a non-trivial U(1) gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions which exhibits a transition between a Coulomb and a confining phase. The negative logarithm of the parity order parameter obeys a perimeter law in the Mott insulator and is enhanced by a logarithmic factor in the superfluid.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Efimov physics beyond universality

We provide an exact solution of the Efimov spectrum in ultracold gases within the standard two-channel model for Feshbach resonances. It is shown that the finite range in the Feshbach coupling makes the introduction of an adjustable three-body parameter obsolete. The solution explains the empirical relation between the scattering length a_- where the first Efimov state appears at the atom threshold and the van der Waals length l_vdw for open channel dominated resonances. There is a continuous crossover to the closed channel dominated limit, where the scale in the energy level diagram as a function of the inverse scattering length 1/a is set by the intrinsic length r* associated with the Feshbach coupling. Our results provide a number of predictions for non-universal ratios between energies and scattering lengths that can be tested in future experiments.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Clock shift in a strongly interacting two-dimensional Fermi gas

We derive universal relations for the radio-frequency (rf) spectroscopy of a two-dimensional Fermi gas consisting of two spin states with a resonant S-wave interaction. The rf transition rate has a high-frequency tail that is proportional to the contact and displays logarithmic scaling violations, decreasing asymptotically like $1/(ω^2 \ln^2 ω)$. Its coefficient is proportional to $\ln^2(a_{2D}'/a_{2D})$, where $a_{2D}$ and $a_{2D}'$ are the 2-dimensional scattering lengths associated with initial-state and final-state interactions. The clock shift is proportional to the contact and to $\ln(a_{2D}'/a_{2D})$. If $|\ln(a_{2D}'/a_{2D})| \gg 1$, the clock shift arises as a cancellation between much larger contributions proportional to $\ln^2(a_{2D}'/a_{2D})$ from bound-bound and bound-free rf transitions.

cond-mat.quant-gas