No Arabic abstract
Controlled quantum systems such as ultracold atoms can provide powerful platforms to study non-equilibrium dynamics of closed many-body quantum systems, especially since a complete theoretical description is generally challenging. In this Letter, we present a detailed study of the rich out-of-equilibrium dynamics of an adjustable number $N$ of uncorrelated condensates after connecting them in a ring-shaped optical trap. We observe the formation of long-lived supercurrents and confirm the scaling of their winding number with $N$ in agreement with the geodesic rule. Moreover, we provide insight into the microscopic mechanism that underlies the smoothening of the phase profile.
Interference of an array of independent Bose-Einstein condensates, whose experiment has been performed recently, is theoretically studied in detail. Even if the number of the atoms in each gas is kept finite and the phases of the gases are not well defined, interference fringes are observed on each snapshot. The statistics of the snapshot interference patterns, i.e., the average fringe amplitudes and their fluctuations (covariance), are computed analytically, and concise formulas for their asymptotic values for long time of flight are derived. Processes contributing to these quantities are clarified and the relationship with the description on the basis of the symmetry-breaking scenario is revealed.
An atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is often described as a macroscopic object which can be approximated by a coherent state. This, on the surface, would appear to indicate that its behavior should be close to being classical. In this paper, we clarify the extent of how classical a BEC is by exploring the semiclassical equations for BECs under the mean field Gaussian approximation. Such equations describe the dynamics of a condensate in the classical limit in terms of the variables < x > and < p > as well as their respective variances. We compare the semiclassical solution with the full quantum solution based on the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation (GPE) and find that the interatomic interactions which generate nonlinearity make the system less classical. On the other hand, many qualitative features are captured by the semiclassical equations, and the equations to be solved are far less computationally intensive than solving the GPE which make them ideal for providing quick diagnostics, and for obtaining new intuitive insight.
Vortex lattices in rapidly rotating Bose--Einstein condensates are systems of topological excitations that arrange themselves into periodic patterns. Here we show how phase-imprinting techniques can be used to create a controllable number of defects in these lattices and examine the resulting dynamics. Even though we describe our system using the mean-field Gross--Pitaevskii theory, the full range of many particle effects among the vortices can be studied. In particular we find the existence of localized vacancies that are quasi-stable over long periods of time, and characterize the effects on the background lattice through use of the orientational correlation function, and Delaunay triangulation.
We examine the stability and dynamics of a family of crossed dark solitons in a harmonically confined Bose-Einstein condensate in two dimensions. Working in a regime where the fundamental snake instability is suppressed, we show the existence of an instability which leads to an interesting collapse and revival of the initial state for the fundamental case of two crossed solitons. The instability originates from the singular point where the solitons cross, and we characterise it by examining the Bogoliubov spectrum. Finally, we extend the treatment to systems of higher symmetry.
We investigate Floquet dynamics of a cavity-spinor Bose-Einstein condensate coupling system via periodic modulation of the cavity pump laser. Parametric resonances are predicted and we show that due to cavity feedback-induced nonlinearity the spin oscillation can be amplified to all orders of resonance, thus facilitating its detection. Real-time observation on Floquet dynamics via cavity output is also discussed.