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arXiv:0808.1781 · Physical Review A

Spin-domain formation in antiferromagnetic condensates

Michał Matuszewski, Tristram J. Alexander, Yuri S. Kivshar

Published Aug 27, 2008• 36 citations
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Abstract

Antiferromagnetic condensates are generally believed not to display modulational instability and subsequent spin-domain formation. Here we demonstrate that in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic field antiferromagnetic spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates can undergo spatial modulational instability followed by the subsequent generation of spin domains. Employing numerical simulations for realistic conditions, we show how this effect can be observed in sodium condensates confined in an optical trap. Finally, we link this instability and spin-domain formation with stationary modes of the condensate.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.78.023632

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Antiferromagnetic condensates are generally believed not to display modulational instability and subsequent spin-domain formation. Here we demonstrate that in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic field antiferromagnetic spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates can undergo spatial modulational instability followed by the subsequent generation of spin domains. Employing numerical simulations for realistic conditions, we show how this effect can be observed in sodium condensates confined in an optical trap. Finally, we link this instability and spin-domain formation with stationary modes of the condensate.
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We analyze the structure of spin-one Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic field. We classify the homogeneous stationary states and study their existence, bifurcations, and energy spectra. We reveal that phase separation can occur in the ground state of antiferromagnetic (polar) condensates while the spin components of the ferromagnetic condensates are always miscible and no phase separation occurs. Our theoretical model, confirmed by numerical simulations, explains that this phenomenon takes place when the energy of the lowest homogeneous state is a concave function of the magnetization. In particular, we predict that phase separation can be observed in a 23Na^{23}\text{N}\text{a}23Na condensate confined in a highly elongated harmonic trap. Finally, we discuss the phenomena of dynamical instability and spin domain formation.
We discuss the structure of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates in the presence of a homogenous magnetic field. We demonstrate that phase separation can occur in the ground state of antiferromagnetic (polar) condensates, while the spin components of ferromagnetic condensates are always miscible, so that no phase separation occurs in them. Our analysis predicts that this phenomenon takes place when the energy of the lowest homogenous state is a concave function of the magnetization. We propose a method for creating spin domains by adiabatic switching-on of a magnetic field. We also discuss the phenomena of dynamical instability and spin domain formation.
We investigate the critical dynamics of spin superflow in an easy-plane antiferromagnetic spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. Spin-dipole oscillations are induced in a trapped condensate by applying a linear magnetic field gradient and we observe that the damping rate increases rapidly as the field gradient increases above a certain critical value. The onset of dissipation is found to be associated with the generation of dark-bright solitons due to the modulation instability of the counterflow of two spin components. Spin turbulence emerges as the solitons decay because of their snake instability. We identify another critical point for spin superflow, in which transverse magnon excitations are dynamically generated via spin-exchanging collisions, which leads to the transient formation of axial polar spin domains.
The dynamics of multiple domain formation caused by the modulation instability of two-component Bose-Einstein condensates in an axially symmetric trap are studied by numerically integrating the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations. The modulation instability induced by the intercomponent mean-field coupling occurs in the out-of-phase fluctuation of the wave function and leads to the formation of multiple domains that alternate from one domain to another, where the phase of one component jumps across the density dips where the domains of the other exist. This behavior is analogous to a soliton train, which explains the origin of the long lifetime of the spin domains observed by Miesner et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2228 (1999)]].
The stability of nonstationary states of homogeneous spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates is studied by performing Bogoliubov analysis in a frame of reference where the state is stationary. In particular, the effect of an external magnetic field is examined. It is found that a nonzero magnetic field introduces instability in a 23{}^{23}23Na condensate. The wavelengths of this instability can be controlled by tuning the strength of the magnetic field. In a 87{}^{87}87Rb condensate this instability is present already at zero magnetic field. Furthermore, an analytical bound for the size of a stable condensate is found, and a condition for the validity of the single-mode approximation is presented. Realization of the system in a toroidal trap is discussed, and the full time development is simulated.