Stability and dynamics of massive vortices in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Quantum mechanics
• Condensed matter physics

Background:

• Two-component atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) exhibit complex structures involving vortices and bright solitary waves.
• Previous research focused on near-integrable regimes with nearly equal scattering lengths.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate stationary states and spectral stability of vortex-bright structures in BECs.
• To extend analysis to large intercomponent interaction coefficients.
• To explore a particle model for simulating stability and dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of stationary states and spectral stability.
• Numerical simulations of vortex-bright structures.
• Development and application of a phenomenological particle model.

Main Results:

• Vortex-bright structures exhibit dynamical instabilities for specific parameter values.
• A novel instability scenario was observed, characterized by oscillatory instability.
• This instability leads to the formation and ejection of multiple vortex-bright structures from a vorticity patch.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals new dynamical instabilities in vortex-bright structures beyond the near-integrable regime.
• The developed particle model accurately captures stability and dynamical features.
• An unprecedented instability mechanism involving vorticity patches and multiple structure ejection was discovered.