Competing order parameters and a tricritical point with a difference

Abstract

We propose a mean-field, phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional with two competing order parameters for a two-component, spin-polarized Fermi gas. This free energy supports a tricritical point which is different from the conventional one and this change offers a correct understanding of the experimental phase diagram of imbalanced Fermi systems (Shin et al, Nature, 2008). The specific heat also happens to be different than in standard theory.