Split instability of a vortex in an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate

Area of Science:

• Quantum physics
• Atomic physics
• Condensed matter physics

Background:

• Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are quantum states of matter formed by cooling bosons to near absolute zero.
• Vortices in BECs are quantized topological defects that exhibit unique quantum properties.
• Dynamical instabilities can disrupt the stable configurations of BECs, leading to complex behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the splitting dynamics of an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate with a vortex.
• To identify the specific instability mechanism responsible for the vortex splitting.
• To analyze the subsequent evolution of the split condensate fragments.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for Bose-Einstein condensates.
• Analysis of the condensate's wave function and density profiles.
• Characterization of the quadrupole dynamical instability and its onset conditions.

Main Results:

• An attractive Bose-Einstein condensate with a vortex undergoes splitting via quadrupole dynamical instability.
• This instability emerges at a lower interaction strength compared to monopole and dipole instabilities.
• The split fragments exhibit a tendency to either reunite, restoring the original vortex, or collapse.

Conclusions:

• Quadrupole dynamical instability is a key mechanism for vortex splitting in attractive Bose-Einstein condensates.
• The interplay between interaction strength and instability determines the condensate's fate (restoration or collapse).
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for controlling and manipulating quantum states in BECs.