arXiv:0905.1146 · Physical Review A
F -wave pairing of cold atoms in optical lattices
Wei-Cheng Lee, Congjun Wu, S. Das Sarma
Abstract
The tremendous development of cold atom physics has opened up a whole new opportunity to study novel states of matter which are not easily accessible in solid-state systems. Here we propose to realize the $f$-wave pairing superfluidity of spinless fermions in ${p}_{x,y}$-orbital bands of two-dimensional honeycomb optical lattices. The nontrivial orbital band structure, rather than strong correlation effects, gives rise to the unconventional pairing with the nodal lines of the $f$-wave symmetry. With a confining harmonic trap, zero-energy Andreev bound states appear around the circular boundary with a sixfold symmetry. The experimental realization and detection of this novel pairing state are feasible.