Quantum Physics
Engineering spin-waves in a high-spin ultracold Fermi gas
18 February 2013
Photo: AG Sengstock
We have studied in detail multi-component spin-waves in an s=3/2 Fermi gas where the high spin leads to novel tensorial degrees of freedom compared to s = 1/2 systems. The excitations of a spin-nematic state are investigated from the linear to the nonlinear regime, where the tensorial character is particularly pronounced. By tuning the initial state we engineer the tensorial spin-wave character, such that the magnitude and sign of the counterflow spin-currents are effectively controlled. A comparison of our data with numerical and analytical results shows excellent agreement.