Vortex Formation by Merging of Multiple Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensates
Abstract
We report observations of vortex formation by merging and interfering multiple Rb87 Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) in a confining potential. In this experiment, a single harmonic potential well is partitioned into three sections by a barrier, enabling the simultaneous formation of three independent, uncorrelated BECs. The BECs may either automatically merge together during their growth, or for high-energy barriers, the BECs can be merged together by barrier removal after their formation. Either process may instigate vortex formation in the resulting BEC, depending on the initially indeterminate relative phases of the condensates and the merging rate.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2007
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0610187
- Bibcode:
- 2007PhRvL..98k0402S
- Keywords:
-
- 03.75.Lm;
- 03.75.Kk;
- 67.40.Vs;
- Tunneling Josephson effect Bose-Einstein condensates in periodic potentials solitons vortices and topological excitations;
- Dynamic properties of condensates;
- collective and hydrodynamic excitations superfluid flow;
- Vortices and turbulence;
- Condensed Matter - Other Condensed Matter
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 3 figures