Crystalline phase of strongly interacting Fermi mixtures

Authors:
  • DPD. S. Petrov
    D. S. Petrov
  • GAG. E. Astrakharchik
    G. E. Astrakharchik
  • DPD. J. Papoular
    D. J. Papoular
  • CSC. Salomon
    C. Salomon
  • GSG. V. Shlyapnikov
    G. V. Shlyapnikov
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Abstract
We show that the system of weakly bound molecules of heavy and light fermionic atoms is characterized by a long-range intermolecular repulsion and can undergo a gas-crystal quantum transition if the mass ratio exceeds a critical value. For the critical mass ratio above 100 obtained in our calculations, this crystalline order can be observed as a superlattice in an optical lattice for heavy atoms with a small filling factor. We also find that this novel system is sufficiently stable with respect to molecular relaxation into deep bound states and to the process of trimer formation.