arXiv:1003.5808 · Physical Review A

Breakdown of the superfluidity of a matter wave in a random environment

Mathias Albert, Tobias Paul, Nicolas Pavloff, P. Lebœuf

Published Jul 6, 2010• 27 citations

Abstract

We consider a guided Bose-Einstein matter wave flowing through a disordered potential. We determine the critical velocity at which superfluidity is broken and compute its statistical properties. They are shown to be connected to extreme values of the random potential. Experimental implementations of this physics are discussed.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.82.011602

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