Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2506.09314 · Quantum Science and Technology

Droplet-gas phases and their dynamical formation in particle imbalanced mixtures

Jose Carlos Pelayo, G. Bougas, Thomás Fogarty, Thomas Busch, S. I. Mistakidis

Published Oct 9, 2025• 2 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Abstract We explore the ground state phase diagram and nonequilibrium dynamics of genuine two-component particle-imbalanced droplets in both isotropic and anisotropic three-dimensional confinements. A gradual transition from mixed droplet-gas to gas configurations is revealed as the average intercomponent attraction decreases or the transverse confinement becomes tighter. Within the mixed structures, a specific majority fragment binds to the minority droplet, satisfying the density ratio locking condition, while the remaining atoms are in a gas state. Our extended Gross–Pitaevskii numerical results are corroborated by a suitable variational approximation capturing the shape and characteristics of droplet-gas fragments. The tunability of the relatively low gas fraction is showcased through parametric variations of the atom number, the intercomponent imbalance, the trap aspect ratio, or the radius of a box potential. To validate the existence and probe the properties of these exotic phases, we simulate the standard time-of-flight and radio frequency experimental techniques. These allow to dynamically identify the resilience of the droplet fragment and the expansion of the gas fraction. Our results, amenable to current experimental cold atom settings, are expected to guide forthcoming investigations aiming to reveal unseen out-of-equilibrium droplet dynamics.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/ae1162

Related papers

Two-component droplet phases and their spectral stability in one dimension

E. G. Charalampidis, S. I. Mistakidis

We unravel the existence and stability properties of one-dimensional droplets arising in genuine two-component particle-imbalanced bosonic mixtures under the influence of a weak harmonic confinement. A plethora of miscible droplet phases is found with the majority component atoms in the vicinity of the minority ones assembling in a droplet configuration, while the remaining excess atoms are in the gas state. Our computations identify a transition from a bound to a trapped gas many-body state for increasing total atom number and fixed interactions, with the bound character being prolonged for stronger intercomponent attractions. The spectral stability of these two-component droplets is revealed by examining their underlying Bogoliubov--de Gennes excitation spectrum. Furthermore, the collective dynamics associated with the fundamental dipole and breathing modes of the system is monitored by suddenly shifting the trap's center or quenching the trap's frequency, respectively. There, a backaction of the significantly localized minority component is imprinted in the majority cloud. The present findings can be simulated in recent cold-atom experiments, thus setting the stage for probing the complex nonequilibrium dynamics of two-component droplets.

arXiv:2409.19852•Physical Review A•Jan 30, 2025•8 citations

Stability and mixed phases of three-component droplets in one dimension

I. A. Englezos, E. G. Charalampidis, Peter Schmelcher +1 more

We explore the ground state properties and excitation spectra of one-dimensional three-component bosonic mixtures accommodating a droplet in two of the species and a third minority component. Relying on the suitable Lee-Huang-Yang framework, we reveal a plethora of distinct self-bound droplet phases and their phase transitions through variations of either the particle number of the majority components or the intercomponent coupling. The ensuing phases demonstrate that the minority component is being un-trapped, partially trapped, or fully trapped by the majority droplet species. These states are characterized by their binding energies captured by the chemical potentials and their low-amplitude excitation spectrum, including mode crossings at the particle-emission threshold. We further derive effective reduced models which are valid in the high-imbalance limit, and accurately reproduce the numerically computed ground states, while providing analytical insights into the role of quantum fluctuations. Our results map out the stability and structure of mixed droplet phases offering guidance into forthcoming experimental and theoretical studies of multicomponent quantum droplets.

arXiv:2601.04950•Jan 8, 2026•0 citations

Particle-imbalanced weakly interacting quantum droplets in one dimension

I. A. Englezos, Peter Schmelcher, S. I. Mistakidis

We explore the formation of one-dimensional two-component quantum droplets with intercomponent particle imbalance using an ab initio many-body method. It is shown that for moderate particle imbalance each component maintains its droplet flat-top or Gaussian-type character depending on the intercomponent attraction. Importantly, large particle imbalance leads to a flat-top shape of the majority component with the minority exhibiting spatially localized configurations. The latter imprint modulations on the majority component which become more pronounced for increasing interspecies attraction. The same holds for larger mass or increasing repulsion of the minority species. Such structural transitions are also evident in the underlying two-body correlation functions. To interpret the origin and characteristics of these droplet states we derive an effective model based on the established Lee-Huang-Yang theory providing adequate qualitative analytical predictions even away from its expected parametric region of validity. In contrast, the droplet character is found to vanish in the presence of fermionic minority atoms. Our results pave the way for unveiling complex droplet phases of matter.

arXiv:2312.13648•Physical Review A•Aug 22, 2024•13 citations

Quantum droplets in imbalanced atomic mixtures

T. A. Flynn, L. Parisi, T. P. Billam +1 more

Quantum droplets are a quantum analog to classical fluid droplets in that they are self-bound and display liquid-like properties---such as incompressibility and surface tension---though their stability is the result of quantum fluctuations. One of the major systems for observing quantum droplets is two-component Bose gases. Two-component droplets are typically considered to be balanced, having a fixed ratio between the densities of the two components. This work goes beyond the fixed density ratio by investigating spherical droplets in imbalanced mixtures. With increasing imbalance, the droplet is able to lower its energy up to a limit, at which point the droplet becomes saturated with the atoms of the majority component and any further atoms added to this component cannot bind to the droplet. Analyzing the breathing mode dynamics of imbalanced droplets indicates that the droplet can emit particles, as in balanced mixtures, but the imbalance leads to an intricate superposition of multiple simultaneously decaying collective oscillations.

arXiv:2209.04318•Physical Review Research•Sep 7, 2023•22 citations

One-dimensional asymmetrically interacting quantum droplets in Bose-Bose mixtures

Huiyun Xiao, Xinran Zhang, Junli Liu +3 more

We theoretically investigate ground-state properties and collective excitations of one-dimensional quantum droplets in asymmetric Bose-Bose mixtures with unequal intraspin interactions. Using the extended Gross-Pitaevskii equation supported by variational, sum-rule, and linearization methods, we show that the intraspin interaction ratio substantially alters the droplet's density profile, driving a transition from Gaussian-like to flat-top shapes. By examining two experimentally relevant parameter regions, we analyze density profiles, radii, peak densities, and excitation spectra to distinguish quantum phases and to depict phase diagrams in the space of asymmetric interaction ratio and total atom number. We carefully study the frequencies of both well-known dipole and breathing modes and less-explored spin-dipole and spin-breathing modes. The breathing-mode frequency decreases monotonically with interaction ratio, approaching asymptotically the result of a conventional weakly interacting Bose gas. It varies nonmonotonically with total atom number, peaking at a critical point that highlights the crucial role of quantum fluctuations. In contrast, spin modes display distinct temporal spin density distributions and reveal in-phase and out-of-phase relative dynamics between components. Their frequencies depend instead monotonically on the interaction ratio and atom number. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of asymmetric quantum droplets and link to experimentally accessible regimes in ultracold $^{39}$K atomic gases.

arXiv:2601.16808•Physical Review A•May 12, 2026•3 citations

Trapped Imbalanced Quantum Droplets

T. A. Flynn, N. A. Keepfer, Parker, Nick G. +1 more

A two-component quantum droplet is an attractive mixture of ultracold bosons stabilised against collapse by quantum fluctuations. Commonly, two-component quantum droplets are studied within a balanced mixture. However, the mixture can be imbalanced resulting in a lower energy but less stably bound droplet, or even a droplet submerged in a gas. This work focuses on the experimentally relevant question: how are imbalanced droplets modified by harmonic trap potentials? Droplet ground states and breathing modes are analysed across the two-dimensional parameter space of imbalance and trap strength. The robustness of the droplet imbalance is also studied by releasing the droplet from the trap, demonstrating that this can lead to the creation of free-space, imbalanced droplets.

arXiv:2309.04300•Sep 8, 2023•1 citation
Abstract We explore the ground state phase diagram and nonequilibrium dynamics of genuine two-component particle-imbalanced droplets in both isotropic and anisotropic three-dimensional confinements. A gradual transition from mixed droplet-gas to gas configurations is revealed as the average intercomponent attraction decreases or the transverse confinement becomes tighter. Within the mixed structures, a specific majority fragment binds to the minority droplet, satisfying the density ratio locking condition, while the remaining atoms are in a gas state. Our extended Gross–Pitaevskii numerical results are corroborated by a suitable variational approximation capturing the shape and characteristics of droplet-gas fragments. The tunability of the relatively low gas fraction is showcased through parametric variations of the atom number, the intercomponent imbalance, the trap aspect ratio, or the radius of a box potential. To validate the existence and probe the properties of these exotic phases, we simulate the standard time-of-flight and radio frequency experimental techniques. These allow to dynamically identify the resilience of the droplet fragment and the expansion of the gas fraction. Our results, amenable to current experimental cold atom settings, are expected to guide forthcoming investigations aiming to reveal unseen out-of-equilibrium droplet dynamics.
We unravel the existence and stability properties of one-dimensional droplets arising in genuine two-component particle-imbalanced bosonic mixtures under the influence of a weak harmonic confinement. A plethora of miscible droplet phases is found with the majority component atoms in the vicinity of the minority ones assembling in a droplet configuration, while the remaining excess atoms are in the gas state. Our computations identify a transition from a bound to a trapped gas many-body state for increasing total atom number and fixed interactions, with the bound character being prolonged for stronger intercomponent attractions. The spectral stability of these two-component droplets is revealed by examining their underlying Bogoliubov--de Gennes excitation spectrum. Furthermore, the collective dynamics associated with the fundamental dipole and breathing modes of the system is monitored by suddenly shifting the trap's center or quenching the trap's frequency, respectively. There, a backaction of the significantly localized minority component is imprinted in the majority cloud. The present findings can be simulated in recent cold-atom experiments, thus setting the stage for probing the complex nonequilibrium dynamics of two-component droplets.
We explore the ground state properties and excitation spectra of one-dimensional three-component bosonic mixtures accommodating a droplet in two of the species and a third minority component. Relying on the suitable Lee-Huang-Yang framework, we reveal a plethora of distinct self-bound droplet phases and their phase transitions through variations of either the particle number of the majority components or the intercomponent coupling. The ensuing phases demonstrate that the minority component is being un-trapped, partially trapped, or fully trapped by the majority droplet species. These states are characterized by their binding energies captured by the chemical potentials and their low-amplitude excitation spectrum, including mode crossings at the particle-emission threshold. We further derive effective reduced models which are valid in the high-imbalance limit, and accurately reproduce the numerically computed ground states, while providing analytical insights into the role of quantum fluctuations. Our results map out the stability and structure of mixed droplet phases offering guidance into forthcoming experimental and theoretical studies of multicomponent quantum droplets.
We explore the formation of one-dimensional two-component quantum droplets with intercomponent particle imbalance using an ab initio many-body method. It is shown that for moderate particle imbalance each component maintains its droplet flat-top or Gaussian-type character depending on the intercomponent attraction. Importantly, large particle imbalance leads to a flat-top shape of the majority component with the minority exhibiting spatially localized configurations. The latter imprint modulations on the majority component which become more pronounced for increasing interspecies attraction. The same holds for larger mass or increasing repulsion of the minority species. Such structural transitions are also evident in the underlying two-body correlation functions. To interpret the origin and characteristics of these droplet states we derive an effective model based on the established Lee-Huang-Yang theory providing adequate qualitative analytical predictions even away from its expected parametric region of validity. In contrast, the droplet character is found to vanish in the presence of fermionic minority atoms. Our results pave the way for unveiling complex droplet phases of matter.
Quantum droplets are a quantum analog to classical fluid droplets in that they are self-bound and display liquid-like properties---such as incompressibility and surface tension---though their stability is the result of quantum fluctuations. One of the major systems for observing quantum droplets is two-component Bose gases. Two-component droplets are typically considered to be balanced, having a fixed ratio between the densities of the two components. This work goes beyond the fixed density ratio by investigating spherical droplets in imbalanced mixtures. With increasing imbalance, the droplet is able to lower its energy up to a limit, at which point the droplet becomes saturated with the atoms of the majority component and any further atoms added to this component cannot bind to the droplet. Analyzing the breathing mode dynamics of imbalanced droplets indicates that the droplet can emit particles, as in balanced mixtures, but the imbalance leads to an intricate superposition of multiple simultaneously decaying collective oscillations.
We theoretically investigate ground-state properties and collective excitations of one-dimensional quantum droplets in asymmetric Bose-Bose mixtures with unequal intraspin interactions. Using the extended Gross-Pitaevskii equation supported by variational, sum-rule, and linearization methods, we show that the intraspin interaction ratio substantially alters the droplet's density profile, driving a transition from Gaussian-like to flat-top shapes. By examining two experimentally relevant parameter regions, we analyze density profiles, radii, peak densities, and excitation spectra to distinguish quantum phases and to depict phase diagrams in the space of asymmetric interaction ratio and total atom number. We carefully study the frequencies of both well-known dipole and breathing modes and less-explored spin-dipole and spin-breathing modes. The breathing-mode frequency decreases monotonically with interaction ratio, approaching asymptotically the result of a conventional weakly interacting Bose gas. It varies nonmonotonically with total atom number, peaking at a critical point that highlights the crucial role of quantum fluctuations. In contrast, spin modes display distinct temporal spin density distributions and reveal in-phase and out-of-phase relative dynamics between components. Their frequencies depend instead monotonically on the interaction ratio and atom number. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of asymmetric quantum droplets and link to experimentally accessible regimes in ultracold 39^{39}39K atomic gases.
A two-component quantum droplet is an attractive mixture of ultracold bosons stabilised against collapse by quantum fluctuations. Commonly, two-component quantum droplets are studied within a balanced mixture. However, the mixture can be imbalanced resulting in a lower energy but less stably bound droplet, or even a droplet submerged in a gas. This work focuses on the experimentally relevant question: how are imbalanced droplets modified by harmonic trap potentials? Droplet ground states and breathing modes are analysed across the two-dimensional parameter space of imbalance and trap strength. The robustness of the droplet imbalance is also studied by releasing the droplet from the trap, demonstrating that this can lead to the creation of free-space, imbalanced droplets.