Prospects for<i>p</i>-wave paired Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer states of fermionic atoms

Abstract

We present theoretical prospects for creating p-wave paired BCS states of magnetic trapped fermionic atoms. Based on our earlier proposal of using dc electric fields to control both the strength and anisotropic characteristic of an atom-atom interaction and our recently completed multichannel atomic collision calculations we discover that p-wave pairing with ${}^{40}\mathrm{K}$ and ${}^{82,84,86}\mathrm{Rb}$ in the low field seeking maximum spin-polarized state represents excellent choices for achieving superfluid BCS states and may be realizable with current technology in laser cooling, magnetic trapping, and evaporative/sympathetic cooling, provided the required strong electric field can be applied. We also comment on the prospects of similar p-wave paired BCS states in ${}^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, and more generally on creating other types of exotic BCS states. Our study will open a new area in the vigorous pursuit to create a quantum degenerate fermionic atom vapor.