arXiv:cond-mat/0501309 · Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment
A wavefunction describing superfluidity in a perfect crystal
Hui Zhai, Yong-Shi Wu
Abstract
We propose a many-body wavefunction that exhibits both diagonal and off-diagonal long-range order. Incorporating short-range correlations due to interatomic repulsion, this wavefunction is shown to allow condensation of zero-point lattice vibrations and phase rigidity. In the presence of an external velocity field, such a perfect crystal will develop non-classical rotational inertia, exhibiting supersolid behaviour. In a sample calculation we show that the superfluid fraction in this state can be as large as of order 0.01 in a reasonable range of microscopic parameters. The relevance to the recent experimental evidence of a supersolid state given by Kim and Chan is discussed.