Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: I study the properties of a spin-down neutron impurity immersed in a low-density free Fermi gas of spin-up neutrons. In particular, I analyze its energy (${E}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$), effective mass (${m}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}^{*}$), and quasiparticle residue (${Z}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$). Results are compared with those of state-of-the-art quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the attractive Fermi polaron realized in ultracold atomic gases experiments, and with those of previous studies of the neutron polaron. Calculations are performed within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock approach using the chiral two-body nucleon-nucleon interaction of Entem and Machleidt at ${\mathrm{N}}^{3}\mathrm{LO}$ with a 500 MeV cut-off and the Argonne V18 phenomenological potential. Only contributions from the ${}^{1}{S}_{0}$ partial wave, which is the dominant one in the low-density region considered, are included. Contributions from three-nucleon forces are expected to be irrelevant at these densities and, therefore, are neglected in the calculation. It is shown that for Fermi momenta between $\ensuremath{\approx}0.25$ and $\ensuremath{\approx}0.45\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ the energy, effective mass, and quasiparticle residue of the impurity vary only slightly, respectively, in the ranges $\ensuremath{-}0.604\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{E}_{F}<{E}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}<\ensuremath{-}0.635\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{E}_{F}$, $1.300\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}m<{m}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}^{*}<1.085\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}m$, and $0.741<{Z}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}<0.836$ in the case of the chiral interaction, and $\ensuremath{-}0.621\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{E}_{F}<{E}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}<\ensuremath{-}0.643\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{E}_{F}$, $1.310\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}m<{m}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}^{*}<1.089\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}m$, and $0.739<{Z}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}<0.832$ when using the Argonne V18 potential. These results are compatible with those derived from ultracold atoms and show that a spin-down neutron impurity in a free Fermi gas of spin-up neutrons with a Fermi momentum in the range $0.25\ensuremath{\lesssim}{k}_{F}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.45\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{fm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ exhibits properties very similar to those of an attractive Fermi polaron in the unitary limit.
Source: Physical Review C
Author: Isaac Vidaña
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G3722196896
OpenAlex ID: W3120001475