We study how the Rashba spin-orbit interaction influences unconventional superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas partially spin polarized by a magnetic field. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that for all field orientations, only the larger Fermi surface is superconducting. When the magnetic field is oriented out of plane, the system realizes a topological $p+ip$ pairing state. When the field is rotated in plane, the order parameter develops nodes along the field direction and finite center-of-mass-momentum pairing is realized. We demonstrate that the pairing symmetry of the system can be easily probed experimentally due to the dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on the magnetic field geometry, and calculate the electronic specific heat as an example.We study how the Rashba spin-orbit interaction influences unconventional superconductivity in a two-dimensional electron gas partially spin polarized by a magnetic field. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that for all field orientations, only the larger Fermi surface is superconducting. When the magnetic field is oriented out of plane, the system realizes a topological $p+ip$ pairing state. When the field is rotated in plane, the order parameter develops nodes along the field direction and finite center-of-mass-momentum pairing is realized. We demonstrate that the pairing symmetry of the system can be easily probed experimentally due to the dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on the magnetic field geometry, and calculate the electronic specific heat as an example.

arXiv:1602.02741Physical review. B./Physical review. BJun 24, 201611 citations

Pair Density Waves and Vortices in an Elongated Spin- 1/2 Fermi Gas

Ran Wei, Erich J. Mueller

We study the vortex structures of a (pseudo)spin-1/2 Fermi gas experiencing a uniform effective magnetic field in an anisotropic trap that interpolates between quasi-one dimensional (1D) and quasi-two dimensional (2D). At a fixed chemical potential, reducing the anisotropy (or equivalently increasing the attractive interactions or increasing the magnetic field) leads to instabilities towards pair density waves and vortex lattices. Reducing the chemical potential stabilizes the system. We calculate the phase diagram and explore the density and pair density. The structures are similar to those predicted for superfluid Bose gases. We further calculate the paired fraction, showing how it depends on the chemical potential and anisotropy.We study the vortex structures of a (pseudo)spin-1/2 Fermi gas experiencing a uniform effective magnetic field in an anisotropic trap that interpolates between quasi-one dimensional (1D) and quasi-two dimensional (2D). At a fixed chemical potential, reducing the anisotropy (or equivalently increasing the attractive interactions or increasing the magnetic field) leads to instabilities towards pair density waves and vortex lattices. Reducing the chemical potential stabilizes the system. We calculate the phase diagram and explore the density and pair density. The structures are similar to those predicted for superfluid Bose gases. We further calculate the paired fraction, showing how it depends on the chemical potential and anisotropy.

arXiv:1203.5120Physical Review LettersJun 15, 20128 citations

p+ip

pairing state. When the field is rotated in plane, the order parameter develops nodes along the field direction and finite center-of-mass-momentum pairing is realized. We demonstrate that the pairing symmetry of the system can be easily probed experimentally due to the dependence of various thermodynamic quantities on the magnetic field geometry, and calculate the electronic specific heat as an example.