arXiv:1011.4563 · Physical Review A
Quasi-long-range order in trapped systems
Federico Crecchi, Ettore Vicari
Abstract
We investigate the effects of a trapping space-dependent potential on the low-temperature quasi-long-range order phase of two-dimensional particle systems with a relevant U(1) symmetry, such as quantum atomic gases. We characterize the universal features of the trap-size dependence using scaling arguments. The resulting scenario is supported by numerical Monte Carlo simulations of a classical two-dimensional $\mathit{XY}$ model with a space-dependent hopping parameter, the inhomogeneity of which is analogous to that arising from the trapping potential in experiments of atomic gases.