Controlling spin current in a trapped Fermi gas.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

We study fundamental features of spin current in a very weakly interacting Fermi gas of 6Li. By creating a spin current and then reversing its flow, we demonstrate control of the spin current. This reversal is predicted by a spin vector evolution equation in energy representation, which shows how the spin and energy of individual atoms become correlated in the nearly undamped regime of the experiments. The theory provides a simple physical description of the spin current and explains both the large amplitude and the slow temporal evolution of the data. Our results have applications in studying and controlling fundamental spin interactions and spin currents in ultracold gases.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Du, X; Zhang, Y; Petricka, J; Thomas, JE

Published Date

  • July 2009

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 103 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 010401 -

PubMed ID

  • 19659125

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1079-7114

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0031-9007

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1103/physrevlett.103.010401

Language

  • eng