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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
06:42
Magnetically Induced Rotating Rayleigh-Taylor Instability
Published on: March 3, 2017
Spontaneous rotating vortex lattices in a pumped decaying condensate
Jonathan Keeling1, Natalia G Berloff
1Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|July 23, 2008
Summary
Particle injection and decay in quantum condensates alter behavior. Larger pumping spots than the Thomas-Fermi radius spontaneously create vortex arrays, breaking rotational symmetry without external rotation.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Condensed matter physics
Background:
- Particle dynamics significantly influence inhomogeneous quantum condensates.
- Understanding condensate behavior under injection and decay is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model trapped, pumped, and decaying condensates.
- To analyze steady-state density and currents.
- To investigate symmetry breaking and vortex formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a complex Gross-Pitaevskii equation for modeling.
- Analyzing steady-state solutions for density and currents.
- Investigating the impact of pumping spot size and homogeneity.
Main Results:
- Homogeneous pumping leads to unstable rotationally symmetric solutions.
- A finite pumping spot can restore stability.
- Pumping spots larger than the Thomas-Fermi radius induce spontaneous vortex arrays, breaking rotational symmetry.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous vortex arrays emerge from specific pumping conditions.
- Rotational symmetry can be broken without external rotation.
- The study provides insights into the complex dynamics of quantum condensates.
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