Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:cond-mat/0701198 · Physical Review A

Flow equations for the BCS-BEC crossover

Sebastian Diehl, Holger Gies A, Jan Martin Pawlowski, CHRISTOF WETTERICH

Published Aug 1, 2007• 87 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The functional renormalization group is used for the BCS-BEC crossover in gases of ultracold fermionic atoms. In a simple truncation, we see how universality and an effective theory with composite bosonic diatom states emerge. We obtain a unified picture of the whole phase diagram. The flow reflects different effective physics at different scales. In the BEC limit as well as near the critical temperature, it describes an interacting bosonic theory.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.76.021602

Related papers

Functional renormalization group approach to the BCS‐BEC crossover

Sebastian Diehl, S. Floerchinger, Holger Gies A +2 more

Abstract The phase transition to superfluidity and the BCS‐BEC crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms is discussed within a functional renormalization group approach. Non‐perturbative flow equations, based on an exact renormalization group equation, describe the scale dependence of the flowing or average action. They interpolate continuously from the microphysics at atomic or molecular distance scales to the macroscopic physics at much larger length scales, as given by the interparticle distance, the correlation length, or the size of the experimental probe. We discuss the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature and compute the gap, the correlation length and the scattering length for molecules. Close to the critical temperature, we find the expected universal behavior. Our approach allows for a description of the few‐body physics (scattering and molecular binding) and the many‐body physics within the same formalism.

arXiv:0907.2193•Annalen der Physik•Jul 19, 2010•74 citations

Functional renormalization for the BCS-BEC crossover

Michael M. Scherer, Stefan Floerchinger, Holger Gies A

We review the functional renormalization group (RG) approach to the BCS-BEC crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms. Formulated in terms of a scale-dependent effective action, the functional RG interpolates continuously between the atomic or molecular microphysics and the macroscopic physics on large length scales. We concentrate on the discussion of the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature which is a paradigm example for the non-perturbative power of the functional RG. A systematic derivative expansion provides for both a description of the many-body physics and its expected universal features as well as an accurate account of the few-body physics and the associated BEC and BCS limits.

arXiv:1010.2890•Oct 14, 2010•7 citations

Functional renormalization and ultracold quantum gases

Stefan Flörchinger

The method of functional renormalization is applied to the theoretical investigation of ultracold quantum gases. Flow equations are derived for a Bose gas with approximately pointlike interaction, for a Fermi gas with two (hyperfine) spin components in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover and for a Fermi gas with three components. The solution of the flow equations determine the properties of these systems both in the few-body regime and in thermal equilibrium. For the Bose gas this covers the quantum phase diagram, the condensate and superfluid fraction, the critical temperature, the correlation length, the specific heat or sound propagation. The properties are discussed both for three and two spatial dimensions. The discussion of the Fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover concentrates on the effect of particle-hole fluctuations but addresses the complete phase diagram. For the three component fermions, the flow equations in the few-body regime show a limit-cycle scaling and the Efimov tower of three-body bound states. Applied to the case of Lithium they explain recently observed three-body loss features. Extending the calculations by continuity to nonzero density, it is found that a new trion phase separates a BCS and a BEC phase for three component fermions close to a common resonance. More formal is the derivation of a new exact flow equation for scale dependent composite operators. This equation allows for example a better treatment of bound states.

•Jan 1, 2009•6 citations

Functional renormalization for the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer to Bose–Einstein condensation crossover

Michael M. Scherer, Stefan Floerchinger, Holger Gies A

We review the functional renormalization group (RG) approach to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer to Bose-Einstein condensation (BCS-BEC) crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms. Formulated in terms of a scale-dependent effective action, the functional RG interpolates continuously between the atomic or molecular microphysics and the macroscopic physics on large length scales. We concentrate on the discussion of the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature, which is a paradigm example for the non-perturbative power of the functional RG. A systematic derivative expansion provides for both a description of the many-body physics and its expected universal features as well as an accurate account of the few-body physics and the associated BEC and BCS limits.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences•Jun 6, 2011•25 citations

Ultracold atoms and the Functional Renormalization Group

Igor Boettcher, Jan M. Pawlowski, Sebastian Diehl

We give a self-contained introduction to the physics of ultracold atoms using functional integral techniques. Based on a consideration of the relevant length scales, we derive the universal effective low energy Hamiltonian describing ultracold alkali atoms. We then introduce the concept of the effective action, which generalizes the classical action principle to full quantum status and provides an intuitive and versatile tool for practical calculations. This framework is applied to weakly interacting degenerate bosons and fermions in the spatial continuum. In particular, we discuss the related BEC and BCS quantum condensation mechanisms. We then turn to the BCS-BEC crossover, which interpolates between both phenomena, and which is realized experimentally in the vicinity of a Feshbach resonance. For its description, we introduce the Functional Renormalization Group approach. After a general discussion of the method in the cold atoms context, we present a detailed and pedagogical application to the crossover problem. This not only provides the physical mechanism underlying this phenomenon. More generally, it also reveals how the renormalization group can be used as a tool to capture physics at all scales, from few-body scattering on microscopic scales, through the finite temperature phase diagram governed by many-body length scales, up to critical phenomena dictating long distance physics at the phase transition. The presentation aims to equip students at the beginning PhD level with knowledge on key physical phenomena and flexible tools for their description, and should enable to embark upon practical calculations in this field.

arXiv:1204.4394•Nuclear Physics B - Proceedings Supplements•Jul 1, 2012•77 citations

Modified Fermi sphere, pairing gap, and critical temperature for the BCS-BEC crossover

Stefan Floerchinger, Michael M. Scherer, CHRISTOF WETTERICH

We investigate the phase diagram of two-component fermions in the BCS-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensate) crossover. Using functional renormalization-group equations we calculate the effect of quantum fluctuations on the fermionic self-energy parametrized by a wave-function renormalization, an effective Fermi radius, and the gap. This allows us to follow the modifications of the Fermi surface and the dispersion relation for fermionic excitations throughout the whole crossover region. We also determine the critical temperature of the second-order phase transition to superfluidity. Our results are in agreement with BCS theory including Gorkov's correction for a small negative scattering length $a$ and with an interacting Bose gas for a small positive $a$. At the unitarity point the result for the gap at zero temperature agrees well with quantum Monte Carlo simulations, while the critical temperature differs.

arXiv:0912.4050•Physical Review A•Jun 14, 2010•38 citations
The functional renormalization group is used for the BCS-BEC crossover in gases of ultracold fermionic atoms. In a simple truncation, we see how universality and an effective theory with composite bosonic diatom states emerge. We obtain a unified picture of the whole phase diagram. The flow reflects different effective physics at different scales. In the BEC limit as well as near the critical temperature, it describes an interacting bosonic theory.
Abstract The phase transition to superfluidity and the BCS‐BEC crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms is discussed within a functional renormalization group approach. Non‐perturbative flow equations, based on an exact renormalization group equation, describe the scale dependence of the flowing or average action. They interpolate continuously from the microphysics at atomic or molecular distance scales to the macroscopic physics at much larger length scales, as given by the interparticle distance, the correlation length, or the size of the experimental probe. We discuss the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature and compute the gap, the correlation length and the scattering length for molecules. Close to the critical temperature, we find the expected universal behavior. Our approach allows for a description of the few‐body physics (scattering and molecular binding) and the many‐body physics within the same formalism.
We review the functional renormalization group (RG) approach to the BCS-BEC crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms. Formulated in terms of a scale-dependent effective action, the functional RG interpolates continuously between the atomic or molecular microphysics and the macroscopic physics on large length scales. We concentrate on the discussion of the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature which is a paradigm example for the non-perturbative power of the functional RG. A systematic derivative expansion provides for both a description of the many-body physics and its expected universal features as well as an accurate account of the few-body physics and the associated BEC and BCS limits.
The method of functional renormalization is applied to the theoretical investigation of ultracold quantum gases. Flow equations are derived for a Bose gas with approximately pointlike interaction, for a Fermi gas with two (hyperfine) spin components in the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) crossover and for a Fermi gas with three components. The solution of the flow equations determine the properties of these systems both in the few-body regime and in thermal equilibrium. For the Bose gas this covers the quantum phase diagram, the condensate and superfluid fraction, the critical temperature, the correlation length, the specific heat or sound propagation. The properties are discussed both for three and two spatial dimensions. The discussion of the Fermi gas in the BCS-BEC crossover concentrates on the effect of particle-hole fluctuations but addresses the complete phase diagram. For the three component fermions, the flow equations in the few-body regime show a limit-cycle scaling and the Efimov tower of three-body bound states. Applied to the case of Lithium they explain recently observed three-body loss features. Extending the calculations by continuity to nonzero density, it is found that a new trion phase separates a BCS and a BEC phase for three component fermions close to a common resonance. More formal is the derivation of a new exact flow equation for scale dependent composite operators. This equation allows for example a better treatment of bound states.
We review the functional renormalization group (RG) approach to the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer to Bose-Einstein condensation (BCS-BEC) crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms. Formulated in terms of a scale-dependent effective action, the functional RG interpolates continuously between the atomic or molecular microphysics and the macroscopic physics on large length scales. We concentrate on the discussion of the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature, which is a paradigm example for the non-perturbative power of the functional RG. A systematic derivative expansion provides for both a description of the many-body physics and its expected universal features as well as an accurate account of the few-body physics and the associated BEC and BCS limits.
We give a self-contained introduction to the physics of ultracold atoms using functional integral techniques. Based on a consideration of the relevant length scales, we derive the universal effective low energy Hamiltonian describing ultracold alkali atoms. We then introduce the concept of the effective action, which generalizes the classical action principle to full quantum status and provides an intuitive and versatile tool for practical calculations. This framework is applied to weakly interacting degenerate bosons and fermions in the spatial continuum. In particular, we discuss the related BEC and BCS quantum condensation mechanisms. We then turn to the BCS-BEC crossover, which interpolates between both phenomena, and which is realized experimentally in the vicinity of a Feshbach resonance. For its description, we introduce the Functional Renormalization Group approach. After a general discussion of the method in the cold atoms context, we present a detailed and pedagogical application to the crossover problem. This not only provides the physical mechanism underlying this phenomenon. More generally, it also reveals how the renormalization group can be used as a tool to capture physics at all scales, from few-body scattering on microscopic scales, through the finite temperature phase diagram governed by many-body length scales, up to critical phenomena dictating long distance physics at the phase transition. The presentation aims to equip students at the beginning PhD level with knowledge on key physical phenomena and flexible tools for their description, and should enable to embark upon practical calculations in this field.
We investigate the phase diagram of two-component fermions in the BCS-BEC (Bose-Einstein condensate) crossover. Using functional renormalization-group equations we calculate the effect of quantum fluctuations on the fermionic self-energy parametrized by a wave-function renormalization, an effective Fermi radius, and the gap. This allows us to follow the modifications of the Fermi surface and the dispersion relation for fermionic excitations throughout the whole crossover region. We also determine the critical temperature of the second-order phase transition to superfluidity. Our results are in agreement with BCS theory including Gorkov's correction for a small negative scattering length aaa and with an interacting Bose gas for a small positive aaa. At the unitarity point the result for the gap at zero temperature agrees well with quantum Monte Carlo simulations, while the critical temperature differs.