What can ultracold Fermi gases teach us about high TcT_c superconductors and vice versa?

We review recent developments in the field of ultracold atomic Fermi gases. As the cold atom system evolves from BCS to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), the behavior of the thermodynamics, and the particle density profiles evolves smoothly in a way which can be well understood theoretically. In the interesting "unitary" regime, we show that these and other data necessarily requires the introduction of a pseudogap in the fermionic spectrum which exhibits many striking similarities to its counterpart in underdoped high $T_c$ superconductors. We emphasize these similarities, giving an overview of the experimental tools and key issues of common interest in both systems.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, to appear in a special issue of Physica C for the M2S-HTSC VIII Conference Proceeding

Establishing Conservation Laws in Pair Correlated Many Body theories: T matrix Approaches

We address conservation laws associated with current, momentum and energy and show how they can be satisfied within many body theories which focus on pair correlations. Of interest are two well known t-matrix theories which represent many body theories which incorporate pairing in the normal state. The first of these is associated with Nozieres Schmitt-Rink theory, while the second involves the t-matrix of a BCS-Leggett like state as identified by Kadanoff and Martin. T-matrix theories begin with an ansatz for the single particle self energy and are to be distinguished from $\Phi$-derivable theories which introduce an ansatz for a particular contribution to the thermodynamical potential. Conservation laws are equivalent to Ward identities which we address in some detail here. Although $\Phi$-derivable theories are often referred to as "conserving theories", a consequence of this work is the demonstration that these two t-matrix approaches similarly can be made to obey all conservation laws. Moreover, simplifying approximations in $\Phi$-derivable theories, frequently lead to results which are incompatible with conservation.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur

A new many-body wave function for BCS-BEC crossover in Fermi gases

We present a new many body formalism for BCS-BEC crossover, which represents a modification of the BCS-Leggett ground state to include 4-fermion, and higher correlations. In the BEC regime, we show how our approach contains the \textit{Petrov et al} 4-fermion behavior and associated scattering length $a_{dd}$ at short distances, and secondly reduces to composite-boson Bogoliubov physics at long distances. It reproduces the Lee-Yang term, whose numerical value is also fixed by $a_{dd}$. We have also examined the next term beyond the Lee-Yang correction in a phenomenological fashion, building on cloud size data and collective mode experiments. However, one has to view this phenomenological analysis with some caution since experiments are in a state of flux and are performed close to unitarity.Comment: 5 pages, 2 color figure

Finite Temperature Effects in Ultracold Fermi Gases

This article is written as a Lecture given in the 2006 Varenna Summer School on "Ultracold Fermi Gases". Here we present a review of BCS--Bose Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover theory with emphasis on finite temperature effects. We discuss the role of temperature $T$ as it enters a theoretical formalism which is based on the standard BCS-Leggett ground state. We also discuss the role of temperature in the context of experiments ranging from thermometric issues to signatures of superfluidity. Particularly important to this discussion is the novel normal state associated with the crossover regime, intermediate between BCS and BEC. The experimental evidence for this unusual normal state (associated with pre-formed pairs) and its counterpart below $T_c$ (associated with non-condensed pairs) is presented in the context of different experiments. We end with a discussion of finite temperature effects in spin polarized superfluids, where $T$ is found to play a crucial role in both theory and experiment.Comment: Lecture given at the International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi" -- the 2006 Varenna Summer School on "Ultracold Fermi Gases", 27 pages, 17 figure

Population of closed-channel molecules in trapped Fermi gases with broad Feshbach resonances

We compute the fraction of closed-channel molecules in trapped atomic Fermi gases, over the entire range of accessible fields and temperatures. We use a two-channel model of BCS--Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover theory at general temperature $T$, and show that this fraction provides a measure of the $T$ dependent pairing gap. Our calculations, containing no free parameters, are in good quantitative agreement with recent low $T$ measurements in $^6$Li. We present readily testable predictions for the dependencies of the closed-channel fraction on temperature and Fermi momentum.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, published in PR

Equilibrating dynamics in quenched Bose gases: characterizing multiple time regimes

We address the physics of equilibration in ultracold atomic gases following a quench of the interaction parameter. We focus on the momentum distribution of the excitations, $n_{\mathbf k}$, and observe that larger ${\mathbf k}$ modes will equilibrate faster, as has been claimed in recent experimental work. We identify three time regimes. At short times $n_{\mathbf k}$ exhibits oscillations; these are damped out at intermediate times where the system appears to be in a false-equilibrium. Finally, at longer times, full equilibration occurs. This false-equilibrium is associated with the necessarily slower relaxation of the condensate which sufficiently high ${\mathbf k}$-states (of the excitation response) will then quasi-adiabatically follow. Our work bears on the recent literature focus on interaction quench experiments. We take issue with the fact that theories to date assume that the oscillatory regime is adequate for addressing experiments.Comment: v2: major rewriting, 6 pages, 3 figure

An Alternative Route to D-wave Superconductivity: the Charge Channel

We demonstrate that a $d_{x^2-y^2}$ superconducting pairing is naturally associated with the screened Coulomb interaction $V_{eff}({\bf q},\omega)$ within the $CuO_2$ plane of high $T_c$ superconductors. This pairing instability arises (via the dielectric constant) from wave-vector structure in $V_{eff}({\bf q},\omega )$ at ${\bf q}=(\pi,\pi)$, which is associated with 2D Van Hove and local field effects. Our results, which are independent of the bandstructure, suggest that direct Coulomb intereactions are significant (when compared to the spin channel) and will, at the least, enhance any other underlying mechanism for $d_{x^2-y^2}$ wave pairing.Comment: 4 pages, postscript file for entire paper, also available at http://rainbow.uchicago.edu/~ldz/paper/psd09.p

Particle Density Distributions in Fermi Gas Superfluids: Molecular Boson Effects

We show how to describe the $T \neq 0$ behavior associated with the usual BCS- Bose Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover ground state. We confine our attention here to the BEC and near-BEC regime where analytical calculations are possible. At finite $T$, non-condensed fermion pairs must be included, although they have been generally ignored in the literature. Within this BEC regime we compute the equations of state for the one and two channel models; these two cases correspond to whether Feshbach resonance effects are omitted or included. Differences between these two cases can be traced to differences between the nature of a Cooper pair and bosonic condensate. Our results are also compared with the Gross Pitaevskii equations of state for true bosons. Differences found here are associated with the underlying fermionic character of the system. Finally, the particle density distribution functions for a trap containing superfluid fermionic atoms are computed using a Thomas-Fermi approach. The one and two channel behavior is found to be very different; we find a narrowing of the density profile as a result of Feshbach resonance effects. Importantly, we infer that the ratio between bosonic and fermionic scattering lengths depends on the magnetic detuning and is generally smaller than 2. Future experiments will be required to determine to what extent this ratio varies with magnetic fields.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure, Revtex 4, submitted to PRA; manuscript expanded, figure adde

Pairing Correlations and the Pseudo-Gap State: Application of the Pairing Approximation Theory

We investigate the pseudogap onset temperature $T^*$, the superconducting transition temperature $T_c$ and the general nature of the pseudogap phase using a diagrammatic BCS-Bose Einstein crossover theory. This decoupling scheme is based on the pairing approximation of Kadanoff and Martin, further extended by Patton (KMP). Our consideration of the KMP pairing approximation is driven by the objective to obtain BCS like behavior at weak coupling, (which does not necessarily follow for other diagrammatic schemes). The breakdown of the Fermi liquid state at $T^*$ is investigated within the lowest order theory and is associated with intermediate values of the coupling. The superconducting instability $T_c$ is evaluated by introducing mode coupling effects, in which the long lived pairs are affected by the single particle pseudogap states and vice versa. Our $T_c$ equations, which turn out to be rather simple as a result of the KMP scheme, reveal a rich structure as a function of $g$ in which the pseudogap is found to compete with superconductivity. Our results are compared with alternate theories in the literature.Comment: REVTeX3.1, 15 pages,15 EPS figures (included

Superconductivity from a pseudogapped normal state: a mode coupling approach to precursor superconductivity

We derive a phase diagram for the pseudogap onset temperature $T^*$ (associated with the breakdown of the Fermi liquid state, due to strong pairing correlations) and the superconducting instability, $T_c$, as a function of variable pairing strength. Our diagrammatic approach to the BCS - Bose-Einstein cross-over problem self consistently treats the coupling between the single particle and pair propagators, and leads to a continuous evolution of these propagators into the standard $T<T_c$ counterparts. A rich structure is found in $T_c$ which reflects the way in which the superconducting instability at $T_c$ is affected by the pseudogap $\Delta_{pg}$. An important consequence of Cooper-pair- induced pseudogaps is that the magnitude of $T_c$ is sustained, even when $\Delta_{pg}>T_c$.Comment: REVTeX3.0; 5 pages, 3 EPS figures (included