Abstract The control of molecules is key to the investigation of quantum phases, in which rich degrees of freedom can be used to encode information and strong interactions can be precisely tuned1. Inelastic losses in molecular collisions2–5, however, have greatly hampered the engineering of low-entropy molecular systems6. So far, the only quantum degenerate gas of molecules has been created via association of two highly degenerate atomic gases7, 8. Here we use an external electric field along with optical lattice confinement to create a two-dimensional Fermi gas of spin-polarized potassium–rubidium (KRb) polar molecules, in which elastic, tunable dipolar interactions dominate over all inelastic processes. Direct thermalization among the molecules in the trap leads to efficient dipolar evaporative cooling, yielding a rapid increase in phase-space density. At the onset of quantum degeneracy, we observe the effects of Fermi statistics on the thermodynamics of the molecular gas. These results demonstrate a general strategy for achieving quantum degeneracy in dipolar molecular gases in which strong, long-range and anisotropic dipolar interactions can drive the emergence of exotic many-body phases, such as interlayer pairing and p-wave superfluidity.Abstract The control of molecules is key to the investigation of quantum phases, in which rich degrees of freedom can be used to encode information and strong interactions can be precisely tuned1. Inelastic losses in molecular collisions2–5, however, have greatly hampered the engineering of low-entropy molecular systems6. So far, the only quantum degenerate gas of molecules has been created via association of two highly degenerate atomic gases7, 8. Here we use an external electric field along with optical lattice confinement to create a two-dimensional Fermi gas of spin-polarized potassium–rubidium (KRb) polar molecules, in which elastic, tunable dipolar interactions dominate over all inelastic processes. Direct thermalization among the molecules in the trap leads to efficient dipolar evaporative cooling, yielding a rapid increase in phase-space density. At the onset of quantum degeneracy, we observe the effects of Fermi statistics on the thermodynamics of the molecular gas. These results demonstrate a general strategy for achieving quantum degeneracy in dipolar molecular gases in which strong, long-range and anisotropic dipolar interactions can drive the emergence of exotic many-body phases, such as interlayer pairing and p-wave superfluidity.

Jan 1, 202093 citations

Strongly Dipolar Quantum Gas of Molecules

Siwei Zhang

Oct 6, 20260 citations

Competing many-body instabilities in two-dimensional dipolar Fermi gases

Ahmet Keleş, Erhai Zhao

Experiments on quantum degenerate Fermi gases of magnetic atoms and dipolar molecules begin to probe their broken-symmetry phases dominated by the long-range, anisotropic dipole-dipole interaction. Several candidate phases including the $p$ -wave superfluid, the stripe density wave, and a supersolid have been proposed theoretically for two-dimensional spinless dipolar Fermi gases. Yet the phase boundaries predicted by different approximations vary greatly and a definitive phase diagram is still lacking. Here we present a theory that treats all competing many-body instabilities in the particle-particle and particle-hole channel on equal footing. We obtain the low-temperature phase diagram by numerically solving the functional renormalization-group flow equations and find a nontrivial density wave phase at small dipolar tilting angles and strong interactions, but no evidence of the supersolid phase. We also estimate the critical temperatures of the ordered phases.Experiments on quantum degenerate Fermi gases of magnetic atoms and dipolar molecules begin to probe their broken-symmetry phases dominated by the long-range, anisotropic dipole-dipole interaction. Several candidate phases including the $p$-wave superfluid, the stripe density wave, and a supersolid have been proposed theoretically for two-dimensional spinless dipolar Fermi gases. Yet the phase boundaries predicted by different approximations vary greatly and a definitive phase diagram is still lacking. Here we present a theory that treats all competing many-body instabilities in the particle-particle and particle-hole channel on equal footing. We obtain the low-temperature phase diagram by numerically solving the functional renormalization-group flow equations and find a nontrivial density wave phase at small dipolar tilting angles and strong interactions, but no evidence of the supersolid phase. We also estimate the critical temperatures of the ordered phases.

arXiv:1512.06147Physical Review ASep 14, 20166 citations

New frontiers for quantum gases of polar molecules

Steven A. Moses, Jacob P. Covey, Matthew Miecnikowski +2 more

arXiv:1610.07711Nature PhysicsDec 19, 2016233 citations

Dipolar quantum gases and liquids

Tilman Pfau

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyJun 7, 20170 citations

p

-wave superfluid, the stripe density wave, and a supersolid have been proposed theoretically for two-dimensional spinless dipolar Fermi gases. Yet the phase boundaries predicted by different approximations vary greatly and a definitive phase diagram is still lacking. Here we present a theory that treats all competing many-body instabilities in the particle-particle and particle-hole channel on equal footing. We obtain the low-temperature phase diagram by numerically solving the functional renormalization-group flow equations and find a nontrivial density wave phase at small dipolar tilting angles and strong interactions, but no evidence of the supersolid phase. We also estimate the critical temperatures of the ordered phases.