Dissociation dynamics of singly charged vortices into half-quantum vortex pairs

Area of Science:

• Quantum fluids
• Condensed matter physics
• Bose-Einstein condensates

Background:

• Fractional vorticity is a key research area in quantum fluids like superconductors and superfluids.
• Half-quantum vortices are fundamental topological excitations in 2D Bose gases with spin.
• Previous studies provided evidence for half-quantum vortices in spinor polariton condensates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate the relationship between singly charged vortices and half-quantum vortices.
• To observe the dissociation process of a singly charged vortex into its constituent half-quantum vortices.

Main Methods:

• Direct and time-resolved observation techniques.
• Utilizing a 2D Bose degenerate gas with spin degree of freedom.
• Investigating the role of a spatially inhomogeneous static potential.

Main Results:

• Direct observation of a singly charged vortex dissociating into a pair of half-quantum vortices.
• Confirmation of half-quantum vortices as the primary components of singly charged vortices.
• Identification of a coupled spin-component condensate as the physical origin.

Conclusions:

• The study provides the first experimental evidence for the dissociation of singly charged vortices into half-quantum vortices.
• This finding elucidates the structural relationship between these vortical entities in quantum fluids.
• The results offer new insights into the dynamics and fundamental properties of fractional vorticity.