Tuning a magnetic Feshbach resonance with spatially modulated laser light

We theoretically investigate the control of a magnetic Feshbach resonance using a bound-to-bound molecular transition driven by spatially modulated laser light. Due to the spatially periodic coupling between the ground and excited molecular states, there exists a band structure of bound states, which can uniquely be characterized by some extra bumps in radio-frequency spectroscopy. With the increasing of coupling strength, the series of bound states will cross zero energy and directly result in a number of scattering resonances, whose position and width can be conveniently tuned by the coupling strength of the laser light and the applied magnetic field (i.e., the detuning of the ground molecular state). In the presence of the modulated laser light, universal two-body bound states near zero-energy threshold still exist. However, compared with the case without modulation, the regime for such universal states is usually small. An unified formula which embodies the influence of the modulated coupling on the resonance width is given. The spatially modulated coupling also implies a local spatially varying interaction between atoms. Our work proposes a practical way of optically controlling interatomic interactions with high spatial resolution and negligible atomic loss.Comment: 9pages, 5figur

Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 Are Phosphorylated during Platelet Activation

The ubiquitously expressed G-proteins G12 and G13 whose function is currently not clear have been shown to be activated in platelet membranes through receptors that stimulate platelet aggregation. We used intact human platelets to determine whether alpha subunits of both G-proteins can be phosphorylated under physiological conditions. Activation of human platelets by thrombin and the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 lead to phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13. Phosphorylation occurred rapidly after addition of thrombin and was not mediated by glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin alpha IIbbeta 3) activation. Phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 could be mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, and thrombin-induced phosphorylation was inhibited by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C indicating an involvement of protein kinase C in Galpha 12/13 phosphorylation induced by thrombin in human platelets. The phosphorylation of both G protein alpha subunits was reconstituted in COS-7 cells cotransfected with Galpha 12 or Galpha 13 and different protein kinase C isoforms. Among the protein knase C isoforms tested, protein kinase C beta , delta , and epsilon were most effective in promoting phosphorylation of Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 in a phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-dependent manner. These data demonstrate that Galpha 12 and Galpha 13 are phosphorylated under in vivo conditions and that this phosphorylation involves protein kinase C

Gapless topological Fulde-Ferrell superfluidity in spin-orbit coupled Fermi gases

Topological superfluids usually refer to a superfluid state which is gapped in the bulk but metallic at the boundary. Here we report that a gapless, topologically non-trivial superfluid with inhomogeneous Fulde-Ferrell pairing order parameter can emerge in a two-dimensional spin-orbit coupled Fermi gas, in the presence of both in-plane and out-of-plane Zeeman fields. The Fulde-Ferrell pairing - induced by the spin-orbit coupling and in-plane Zeeman field - is responsible for this gapless feature. This exotic superfluid has a significant Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition temperature and has robust Majorana edge modes against disorder owing to its topological nature.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures; add the results on the critical BKT temperature and superfluid density, as well as the discussion on the robustness of the chiral edge states against disorde

Phase-fluctuation Induced Time-Reversal Symmetry Breaking Normal State

Spontaneous time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking plays an important role in studying strongly correlated unconventional superconductors. When the superconducting gap functions with different pairing symmetries compete, an Ising ($Z_2$) type symmetry breaking occurs due to the locking of the relative phase $\Delta\theta_{12}$ via a second order Josephson coupling. The phase locking can take place even in the normal state in the phase fluctuation regime before the onset of superconductivity. If $\Delta\theta_{12}=\pm\frac{\pi}{2}$, then TRS is broken, otherwise, if $\Delta\theta_{12}=0$, or, $\pi$, rotational symmetry is broken leading to a nematic state. In both cases, the order parameters possess a 4-fermion structure beyond the scope of mean-field theory. We employ an effective two-component $XY$-model assisted by a renormalization group analysis to address this problem. In addition, a quartetting, or, charge-``4e", superconductivity can also occur above $T_c$. Monte-Carlo simulations are performed and the results are in a good agreement with the renormalization group analysis. Our results provide useful guidance for studying novel symmetry breakings in strongly correlated superconductors.Comment: 4+ pages, 3 figures. References are added. Supplementary Material is updated. Comments are welcom