Quantum phases of quadrupolar Fermi gases in coupled one-dimensional systems

Following the recent proposal to create quadrupolar gases [S.G. Bhongale et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 155301 (2013)], we investigate what quantum phases can be created in these systems in one dimension. We consider a geometry of two coupled one-dimensional systems, and derive the quantum phase diagram of ultra-cold fermionic atoms interacting via quadrupole-quadrupole interaction within a Tomonaga-Luttinger-liquid framework. We map out the phase diagram as a function of the distance between the two tubes and the angle between the direction of the tubes and the quadrupolar moments. The latter can be controlled by an external field. We show that there are two magic angles $theta^{c}_{B,1}$ and $theta^{c}_{B,2}$ between $0$ to $pi/2$, where the intratube quadrupolar interactions vanish and change signs. Adopting a pseudo-spin language with regards to the two 1D systems, the system undergoes a spin-gap transition and displays a zig-zag density pattern, above $theta^{c}_{B,2}$ and below $theta^{c}_{B,1}$. Between the two magic angles, we show that polarized triplet superfluidity and a planar spin-density wave order compete with each other. The latter corresponds to a bond order solid in higher dimensions. We demonstrate that this order can be further stabilized by applying a commensurate periodic potential along the tubes.

d_{xy}-Density wave in fermion-fermion cold atom mixtures

We study density wave instabilities in a doubly-degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture with $SU(2)times SU(2)$ symmetry on a square lattice. For sufficiently large on-site inter-species repulsion, when the two species of fermions are both at half-filling, two conventional ($s$-wave) number density waves are formed with a $pi$-phase difference between them to minimize the inter-species repulsion. Upon moving one species away from half-filling, an unconventional density wave with $d_{xy}$-wave symmetry emerges. When both species are away from the vicinity of half-filling, superconducting instabilities dominate. We present results of a functional renormalization-group calculation that maps out the phase diagram at weak couplings. Also, we provide a simple explanation for the emergence of the $d_{xy}$-density wave phase based on a four-patch model. We find a robust and general mechanism for $d_{xy}$-density-wave formation that is related to the shape and size of the Fermi surfaces. The density imbalance between the two species of fermions in the vicinity of half-filling leads to phase-space discrepancy for different inter-species Umklapp couplings. Using a phase space argument for leading corrections in the one-loop renormalization group approach to fermions, we show that the phase-space discrepancy in our system causes opposite flows for the two leading intra-species Umklapp couplings and that this triggers the $d_{xy}$-density-wave instability.

Unconventional superconducting phases on a two-dimensional extended Hubbard model

We study the phase diagram of the extended Hubbard model on a two-dimensional square lattice, including on-site (U) and nearest-neighbor (V) interactions, at weak couplings. We show that the charge-density-wave phase that is known to occur at half-filling when 4V > U gives way to a d_{xy} -wave superconducting instability away from half-filling, when the Fermi surface is not perfectly nested, and for sufficiently large repulsive and a range of on-site repulsive interaction. In addition, when nesting is further suppressed and in presence of a nearest-neighbor attraction, a triplet time-reversal breaking (p_x + ip_y)-wave pairing instability emerges, competing with the d_{x2+y2} pairing state that is known to dominate at fillings just slightly away from half. At even smaller fillings, where the Fermi surface no longer presents any nesting, the (p_x +ip_y)-wave superconducting phase dominates in the whole regime of on-site repulsions and nearest-neighbor attractions, while d_{xy}-pairing occurs in the presence of on-site attraction. Our results suggest that zero-energy Majorana fermions can be realized on a square lattice in the presence of a magnetic field. For a system of cold fermionic atoms on a two-dimensional square optical lattice, both an on-site repulsion and a nearest-neighbor attraction would be required, in addition to rotation of the system to create vortices. We discuss possible ways of experimentally engineering the required interaction terms in a cold atom system.