Moment of inertia of a trapped superfluid gas of atomic Fermions

The moment of inertia of a trapped superfluid gas of atomic Fermions (6Li) is calculated as a function of two system parameters: temperature and deformation of the trap. For moderate deformations at zero temperature the moment of inertia takes on the irrotational flow value. Only for T very close to the critical temperature rigid rotation is attained. For very strong trap deformations the moment of inertia approaches its rigid body value even in the superfluid state. It is proposed that future measurements of the rotational energy will unambiguously reveal whether the system is in a superfluid state or not.