Abstract We study the splitting dynamics of a triply quantized vortex (TQV) confined in a ring-shaped Bose–Einstein condensate under a weakly elliptical harmonic trap. Using full 3D simulations in cylindrical coordinates, combined with a semi-analytical energy analysis, we show that the vortex preferentially splits along the long axis of the trap, a direction that minimizes the kinetic-energy cost relative to the initial TQV state. Systematic parameter scans reveal that initial quantum fluctuations increase the splitting time and suppress the transient three-core pattern observed in noise-free simulations, whereas stronger nonlinear interactions accelerate the splitting. When the trap is nearly isotropic, the unstable Bogoliubov modes are dominated by both azimuthal quantum number l q = 3 and l q = 2 ; this leads to a dynamical sequence where three daughter vortices first form a triangular arrangement, later evolving into a linear chain. For stronger anisotropy, geometric coupling selectively enhances the l q = 2 mode, making it the sole dominant channel and resulting directly in linear vortex alignment—a clear signature of geometry-induced mode competition explained through combined energy-based and Bogoliubov stability analysis. Our results provide a quantitative connection between confinement geometry and unstable mode selection, clarifying how symmetry breaking reorganizes the instability spectrum and thereby steers the splitting pathway and final vortex configuration. This mechanism-based understanding offers experimentally testable guidance for geometry-controlled vortex engineering.
Abstract We prepared a ring-shaped Bose–Einstein condensate with quantized circulation by imprinting a linear azimuthal phase. A doubly quantized vortex (DQV) can be generated and exist stably in the middle of the condensate cloud after the system is released into a rotationally symmetric harmonic trap. For an asymmetric trap with a small degree of anisotropy the generated DQV initially splits into two singly quantized vortices and revives again but eventually evolves into two unit vortices due to the dynamic instability. For the degree of anisotropy above a critical value, the DQV is extremely unstable and decays rapidly into two singlet vortices. The geometry-dependent lifetime of the DQV and vortex-induced excitations are also discussed intensively.
Abstract Utilizing the dissipative Gross–Pitaevskii equation, we investigated the splitting dynamics of triply quantized vortices at finite temperature. Through linear perturbation analysis, we determined the excitation modes of these vortices across various dissipation parameters. We identified three unstable modes with p = 2-, 3- and 4-fold rotational symmetries, revealing a significant dynamic transition of the most unstable mode. That is, as the dissipation parameter increases the most unstable mode transitions from the p = 2 mode to the p = 3 mode. Throughout the entire range of dissipation parameters, the p = 4 unstable mode is never the dominant mode. Subsequently, we performed nonlinear numerical simulations of the vortex splitting process. Under random perturbations we confirmed the dynamical transition, and under specific perturbations we confirmed the instability of the p = 4 mode. Our findings on the finite temperature dependence of the splitting dynamics of triply quantized vortices are expected to be verifiable in experiments.
Multiquantum vortices in dilute atomic Bose-Einstein condensates confined in long cigar-shaped traps are known to be both energetically and dynamically unstable. They tend to split into single-quantum vortices even in the ultralow temperature limit with vanishingly weak dissipation, which has also been confirmed in the recent experiments [Y. Shin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 160406 (2004)] utilizing the so-called topological phase engineering method to create multiquantum vortices. We study the stability properties of multiquantum vortices in different trap geometries by solving the Bogoliubov excitation spectra for such states. We find that there are regions in the trap asymmetry and condensate interaction strength plane in which the splitting instability of multiquantum vortices is suppressed, and hence they are dynamically stable. For example, the doubly quantized vortex can be made dynamically stable even in spherical traps within a wide range of interaction strength values. We expect that this suppression of vortex-splitting instability can be experimentally verified.
The dynamical instabilities and ensuing dynamics of singly and doubly quantized vortex states of Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions are investigated using full three-dimensional numerical simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. With increasing the strength of attractive interactions, a series of dynamical instabilities such as quadrupole, dipole, octupole, and monopole instabilities emerge. The most prominent instability depends on the strength of interactions, the geometry of the trapping potential, and deviations from the axisymmetry due to external perturbations. Singly quantized vortices split into two clusters and subsequently undergo split-merge cycles in a pancake-shaped trap, whereas the split fragments immediately collapse in a spherical trap. Doubly quantized vortices are always unstable to disintegration of the vortex core. If we suddenly change the strength of interaction to within a certain range, the vortex splits into three clusters, and one of the clusters collapses after a few split-merge cycles. The vortex split can be observed using a current experimental setup of Leanhardt et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 190403 (2002)].
We study the nonlinear dynamics of the splitting of a doubly quantized vortex in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate. The dynamics is studied in detail by solving the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The main dynamical features are explained in terms of a nonlinear three-level system, to which we find an analytical solution. This result is compared to linear Bogoliubov analysis and to the full numerical time evolution. It is concluded that the time scale for the splitting is mainly determined by the instability of the linearized system, and nonlinear effects contribute logarithmically.
We study numerically the dynamical instabilities and splitting of singly and doubly quantized composite vortices in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates harmonically confined to quasi two dimensions. In this system, the vortices become pointlike composite defects that can be classified in terms of an integer pair $({\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{1},\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{2})$ of phase winding numbers. Our simulations based on zero-temperature mean-field theory reveal several vortex splitting behaviors that stem from the multicomponent nature of the system and do not have direct counterparts in single-component condensates. By calculating the Bogoliubov excitations of stationary axisymmetric composite vortices, we find nonreal excitation frequencies (i.e., dynamical instabilities) for the singly quantized
(1,1) and $(1,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{-}1)$ vortices and for all variants of doubly quantized vortices, which we define by the condition ${max}_{j=1,2}|{\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{j}|=2$. While the short-time predictions of the linear Bogoliubov analysis are confirmed by direct time integration of the Gross-Pitaevskii equations of motion, the time integration also reveals intricate long-time decay behavior not captured by the linearized dynamics. First, the $(1,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$ vortex is found to be unstable against splitting into a
(1,0) vortex and a $(0,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1)$ vortex. Second, the
(2,1) vortex exhibits a two-step decay process in which its initial splitting into a
(2,0) vortex and a
(0,1) vortex is followed by the off-axis splitting of the
(2,0) vortex into two
(1,0) vortices. Third, the $(2,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{-}2)$ vortex is observed to split into a $(\ensuremath{-}1,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}1)$ vortex, three
(1,0) vortices, and three $(0,\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{-}1)$ vortices. Each of these splitting processes is the dominant decay mechanism of the respective stationary composite vortex for a wide range of intercomponent interaction strengths and relative populations of the two condensate components and should be amenable to experimental detection. Our results contribute to a better understanding of vortex physics, hydrodynamic instabilities, and two-dimensional quantum turbulence in multicomponent superfluids.