title: Metastability in spin-polarized Fermi gases.
abstract: We study the role of particle transport and evaporation on the phase separation of an ultracold, spin-polarized atomic Fermi gas. We show that the previously observed deformation of the superfluid paired core is a result of evaporative depolarization of the superfluid due to a combination of enhanced evaporation at the center of the trap and the inhibition of spin transport at the normal-superfluid phase boundary. These factors contribute to a nonequilibrium jump in the chemical potentials at the phase boundary. Once formed, the deformed state is highly metastable, persisting for times of up to 2 s.
authors: Department of Physics and Astronomy and Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors: Y A
authors: YA
authors: Liao
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Revelle
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Paprotta
authors: A S C
authors: AS
authors: Rittner
authors: Wenhui
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: G B
authors: GB
authors: Partridge
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Hulet