Stochastic and Semi-Classical Approaches to the Quantum Virial Expansion

Abstract

Many-body quantum systems provide an interesting playground for experimentalists and theorists alike. In particular, ultracold atomic gases provide not only a realm of study for which experiments have a high degree of control but also provides theorists with intriguing, yet challenging systems that may be accessed computationally. It is for these reasons that it is here where the majority of our work will focus. We discuss the necessary physics, thermodynamics, and computational methods for carrying out this work, and present several methods for computing coefficients of the quantum virial expansion across dimensions for Fermi gases with zero-range interactions. The techniques discussed are non-perturbative and involve stochastic methods as well as a semi-classical lattice approximation. Through these algorithms, we have computed the interaction dependence (both attractive and repulsive where applicable) of the virial coefficients to a relatively high order as compared to current literature in one, two, and three spatial dimensions. Through one of said methods, we are able to provide a prediction for the radius of convergence of the virial expansion in one spatial dimension.Doctor of Philosoph