Motivated by recent experiments, we model the dynamics of a condensed Bose gas in a rotating anisotropic trap, where the equations of motion are analogous to those of charged particles in a magnetic field. As the rotation rate is ramped from zero to the trapping frequency, the condensate stretches along one direction and is squeezed along another, becoming long and thin. When the trap anisotropy is slowly switched off on a particular timescale, the condensate is left in the lowest Landau level. We use a time-dependent variational approach to quantify these dynamics and give intuitive arguments about the structure of the condensate wave function. This preparation of a lowest Landau level condensate can be an important first step in realizing bosonic analogs of quantum Hall states.
Motivated by recent experiments, we model the dynamics of a condensed Bose gas in a rotating anisotropic trap, where the equations of motion are analogous to those of charged particles in a magnetic field. As the rotation rate is ramped from zero to the trapping frequency, the condensate stretches along one direction and is squeezed along another, becoming long and thin. When the trap anisotropy is slowly switched off on a particular timescale, the condensate is left in the lowest Landau level. We use a time-dependent variational approach to quantify these dynamics and give intuitive arguments about the structure of the condensate wave function. This preparation of a lowest Landau level condensate can be an important first step in realizing bosonic analogs of quantum Hall states.
A rapidly rotating Bose-Einstein condensate in a symmetric two-dimensional trap can be described with the lowest Landau-level set of states. In this case, the condensate wave function $\ensuremath{\psi}(x,y)$ is a Gaussian function of r2=x2+y2, multiplied by an analytic function P(z) of the single complex variable z=x+iy; the zeros of P(z) denote the positions of the vortices. Here, a similar description is used for a rapidly rotating anisotropic two-dimensional trap with arbitrary anisotropy $({\ensuremath{\omega}}_{x}∕{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{y}\ensuremath{\leqslant}1)$. The corresponding condensate wave function $\ensuremath{\psi}(x,y)$ has the form of a complex anisotropic Gaussian with a phase proportional to xy, multiplied by an analytic function $P(\ensuremath{\zeta})$, where $\ensuremath{\zeta}\ensuremath{\propto}x+i{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{-}}y$ and $0\ensuremath{\leqslant}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\leqslant}1$ is a real parameter that depends on the trap anisotropy and the rotation frequency. The zeros of $P(\ensuremath{\zeta})$ again fix the locations of the vortices. Within the set of lowest Landau-level states at zero temperature, an anisotropic parabolic density profile provides an absolute minimum for the energy, with the vortex density decreasing slowly and anisotropically away from the trap center.
A rapidly rotating Bose-Einstein condensate in a symmetric two-dimensional harmonic trap can be described with the lowest Landau-level set of single-particle states. The condensate wave function $\ensuremath{\psi}(x,y)$ is a Gaussian $\ensuremath{\propto}\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}{r}^{2}/2)$, multiplied by an analytic function f(z) of the complex variable z=x+iy. The criterion for a quantum phase transition to a non-superfluid correlated many-body state is usually expressed in terms of the ratio of the number of particles to the number of vortices. Here a similar description applies to a rapidly rotating nonsymmetric two-dimensional trap with arbitrary quadratic anisotropy (${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{x}^{2}<{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{y}^{2}$). The corresponding condensate wave function $\ensuremath{\psi}(x,y)$ is a complex anisotropic Gaussian with a phase proportional to xy, multiplied by an analytic function f(z), where $z=x+i{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{-}}y$ is a stretched complex variable and $0\ensuremath{\leqslant}{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\leqslant}1$ is a real parameter that depends on the trap anisotropy and the rotation frequency. Both in the mean-field Thomas-Fermi approximation and in the mean-field lowest Landau level approximation with many visible vortices, an anisotropic parabolic density profile minimizes the energy. An elongated condensate grows along the soft trap direction yet ultimately shrinks along the tight trap direction. The criterion for the quantum phase transition to a correlated state is generalized (1) in terms of N/Lz, which suggests that a nonsymmetric trap should make it easier to observe this transition, or (2) in terms of a ``fragmented'' correlated state, which suggests that a nonsymmetric trap should make it harder to observe this transition. An alternative scenario involves a crossover to a quasi one-dimensional condensate without visible vortices, as suggested by Aftalion et al., Phys. Rev. A 79, 011603(R) (2009).
After reviewing the ideal Bose-Einstein gas in a box and in a harmonic trap, the effect of interactions on the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate are discussed, along with the dynamics of small-amplitude perturbations (the Bogoliubov equations). When the condensate rotates with angular velocity $\ensuremath{\Omega}$, one or several vortices nucleate, leading to many observable consequences. With more rapid rotation, the vortices form a dense triangular array, and the collective behavior of these vortices has additional experimental implications. For $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ near the radial trap frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$, the lowest-Landau-level approximation becomes applicable, providing a simple picture of such rapidly rotating condensates. Eventually, as $\ensuremath{\Omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$, the rotating dilute gas is expected to undergo a quantum phase transition from a superfluid to various highly correlated (nonsuperfluid) states analogous to those familiar from the fractional quantum Hall effect for electrons in a strong perpendicular magnetic field.
Rapidly rotating atomic gases provide a platform for studying phenomena akin to type-II superconductors and quantum Hall systems. Recently, these systems have attracted renewed interest due to technological advances in the trap anisotropy control, in-situ observation capabilities, and cooling and rotating complex atomic species such as dipolar gases. Understanding the vortex lattice formation and quantum melting is crucial for exploring quantum Hall physics in these systems. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the vortex lattices in anisotropic quantum gases. We formulate the rotating gas Hamiltonian in the Landau gauge, and consider the effects of additional perturbations such as the trap potential in the lowest Landau level (LLL). Focusing on the gases with short-range interactions, we obtain the many-body Hamiltonian projected to lowest Landau level. We consider the limit of full Bose-Einstein condensation and obtain the governing Gross-Pitaevskii equation to identify the possible vortex phases. We numerically solve the Gross-Pitaevskii equation using the imaginary time evolution, and demonstrate the possible vortex lattices as a function of anisotropy, rotation speed and interaction strength. We show that the number of states with a support in the LLL, which determines the number of vortices, follows a Thomas-Fermi type scaling albeit with slightly different coefficients from the usual condensates.
After reviewing the ideal Bose-Einstein gas in a box and in a harmonic trap, I discuss the effect of interactions on the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), along with the dynamics of small-amplitude perturbations (the Bogoliubov equations). When the condensate rotates with angular velocity Omega, one or several vortices nucleate, with many observable consequences. With more rapid rotation, the vortices form a dense triangular array, and the collective behavior of these vortices has additional experimental implications. For Omega near the radial trap frequency omega_perp, the lowest-Landau-level approximation becomes applicable, providing a simple picture of such rapidly rotating condensates. Eventually, as Omega approaches omega_perp, the rotating dilute gas is expected to undergo a quantum phase transition from a superfluid to various highly correlated (nonsuperfluid) states analogous to those familiar from the fractional quantum Hall effect for electrons in a strong perpendicular magnetic field.
Realizing fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states in ultracold atomic systems remains a major goal despite numerous experimental advances in the last few decades. Recent progress in trap anisotropy control under rapid rotation has renewed interest in ultracold atomic FQH physics, enabling experiments that impart much larger angular momentum per particle and offer in situ imaging with resolution finer than the cyclotron orbit size. In this paper, we present a theoretical investigation of a rapidly rotating anisotropic Bose gas. By projecting the full Hamiltonian, including both kinetic and interaction terms, onto the lowest Landau level, we derive a compact two-parameter model that captures the effects of interaction strength, rotation rate, and anisotropy. Using exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group, we obtain a phase diagram that features broken-symmetry phases and topologically ordered quantum Hall states, while also highlighting the distinctive physics arising from the system's edges. Our results demonstrate the potential for future theoretical and experimental exploration of anisotropic quantum fluids, offering a unified framework for weakly interacting Bose condensates, vortex matter, and strongly correlated topological phases.