Lowest order constrained variational approximation for ultracold Bose-Fermi mixtures

Abstract

In this thesis, we investigate ultracold Bose-Fermi mixtures in both two and three dimensions using a non-perturbative approach based on the Lowest Order Constrained Variational (LOCV) method. This variational technique, originally developed in the context of nuclear matter, is applied here to dilute quantum gases at zero temperature, allowing for an accurate treatment of two-body correlations beyond perturbative limits. We begin by analysing Bose-Fermi mixtures near a broad Fano-Feshbach resonance, which enables precise tuning of the interspecies interaction strength. Particular attention is devoted to the low-dimensional case, where quantum fluctuations are enhanced and experimental realizations have become increasingly accessible. While the three-dimensional problem serves as a useful benchmark, the two-dimensional Bose-Fermi mixture presents unique challenges. Notably, no prior non-perturbative studies exist on its mechanical stability. A central goal of this work is to determine the conditions under which the 2D Bose-Fermi mixture remains mechanically stable as the boson-fermion attraction is increased. Our results demonstrate that the LOCV approach captures the relevant physics from weak to moderate coupling, offering a complementary perspective to perturbative methods or alternative non-perturbative approaches such as the T-matrix formalism. In this coupling range, we identify the critical strength of boson-boson repulsion necessary to prevent phase separation or collapse, thereby providing the first theoretical variational prediction of a stability phase diagram in this two dimensional regime. Overall, this work fills a gap in the literature and provides a useful reference point for future theoretical and experimental studies of strongly interacting Bose-Fermi systems in reduced dimensionality.