Spin-imbalance in a one-dimensional Fermi gas.

Superconductivity and magnetism generally do not coexist. Changing the relative number of up and down spin electrons disrupts the basic mechanism of superconductivity, where atoms of opposite momentum and spin form Cooper pairs. Nearly forty years ago Fulde and Ferrell and Larkin and Ovchinnikov (FFLO) proposed an exotic pairing mechanism in which magnetism is accommodated by the formation of pairs with finite momentum. Despite intense theoretical and experimental efforts, however, polarized superconductivity remains largely elusive. Unlike the three-dimensional (3D) case, theories predict that in one dimension (1D) a state with FFLO correlations occupies a major part of the phase diagram. Here we report experimental measurements of density profiles of a two-spin mixture of ultracold (6)Li atoms trapped in an array of 1D tubes (a system analogous to electrons in 1D wires). At finite spin imbalance, the system phase separates with an inverted phase profile, as compared to the 3D case. In 1D, we find a partially polarized core surrounded by wings which, depending on the degree of polarization, are composed of either a completely paired or a fully polarized Fermi gas. Our work paves the way to direct observation and characterization of FFLO pairing.

Probing the upper limit of nonclassical rotational inertia in solid helium 4.

We study the effect of confinement on solid 4He's nonclassical rotational inertia fraction (NCRIF) in a torsional oscillator by constraining it to narrow annular cells of various widths. The NCRIF exhibits an observed maximum value of 20% for annuli of approximately 100 microm width. Samples constrained to porous media or to larger geometries both have smaller NCRIF, mostly below approximately 1%. In addition, we extend the blocked-annulus experiment of Kim and Chan to solid samples with large supersolid fractions. Blocking the annulus suppresses the nonclassical decoupling from 17.1% to below the limit of our detection of 0.8%. This result demonstrates the nonlocal nature of the supersolid phenomena. At 20 mK, NCRIF depends on velocity history showing a closed hysteresis loop in different thin annular cells.

Observation of classical rotational inertia and nonclassical supersolid signals in solid 4He below 250 mK.

We have confirmed the existence, as first reported by Kim and Chan, of a supersolid state in solid 4He at temperatures below 250 mK. We have employed a torsional oscillator cell with a square cross section to insure a locking of the solid to the oscillating cell. We find that the nonclassical rotational inertia signal is not a universal property of solid 4He but can be eliminated through an annealing of the solid helium sample. This result has important implications for our understanding of the supersolid state.