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Dynamical instability of a doubly quantized vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate.
Y Shin1, M Saba, M Vengalattore
1MIT-Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|November 5, 2004
Summary
Doubly quantized vortices in sodium-23 condensates decayed into singly quantized vortices due to instability. Higher atom density slowed this splitting process, impacting vortex dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Quantum Gases
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Vortices are fundamental topological defects in superfluids and Bose-Einstein condensates.
- Understanding vortex dynamics is crucial for exploring quantum fluid behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the topological imprinting and time evolution of doubly quantized vortices.
- To characterize the decay mechanism of doubly quantized vortices into singly quantized ones.
- To determine the influence of atom density on the vortex splitting timescale.
Main Methods:
- Topological imprinting of doubly quantized vortices in spin-1 23Na Bose-Einstein condensates.
- Time-evolution observation using tomographic imaging.
- Analysis of vortex decay and splitting dynamics.
Main Results:
- Doubly quantized vortices were successfully created and their decay observed.
- The decay was identified as a dynamical instability leading to two singly quantized vortices.
- A longer splitting timescale was observed at higher atom densities.
Conclusions:
- Dynamical instability drives the decay of doubly quantized vortices.
- Atom density is a key parameter influencing the stability and evolution of quantized vortices.
- This study provides insights into topological defect dynamics in quantum superfluids.