Structure and stability of a dipolar condensate with a singly quantized vortex

H. C. Lee, Tsin-Fu Jiang

P. B. Blakie, Au-Chen Lee, Danny Baillie +1 more

Ryan Wilson, Shai Ronen, John L. Bohn

We study the stability of singly and doubly quantized vortex states of harmonically trapped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) by calculating the low-lying excitations of these condensates. We map the dynamical stability of these vortices as functions of the dipole-dipole interaction strength and trap geometry by finding where their excitations have purely real energy eigenvalues. In contrast to BECs with purely contact interactions, we find that dipolar BECs in singly quantized vortex states go unstable to modes with an increasing number of angular and radial nodes for more oblate trap aspect ratios, corresponding to local collapse that occurs on a characteristic length scale. Additionally, we find that dipolar BECs in doubly quantized vortex states are unstable to decay into a different topological state (with two singly quantized vortices) for all interaction strengths when the trap geometry is sufficiently prolate to make the dipoles attractive, and in windows of interaction strength when the trap geometry is sufficiently oblate to make the dipoles repulsive.

A. Martin, Neil G. Marchant, Duncan H J O’Dell +1 more

The experimental realization of quantum-degenerate Bose gases made of atoms with sizeable magnetic dipole moments has created a new type of fluid, known as a quantum ferrofluid, which combines the extraordinary properties of superfluidity and ferrofluidity. A hallmark of superfluids is that they are constrained to rotate through vortices with quantized circulation. In quantum ferrofluids the long-range dipolar interactions add new ingredients by inducing magnetostriction and instabilities, and also affect the structural properties of vortices and vortex lattices. Here we give a review of the theory of vortices in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates, exploring the interplay of magnetism with vorticity and contrasting this with the established behaviour in non-dipolar condensates. We cover single vortex solutions, including structure, energy and stability, vortex pairs, including interactions and dynamics, and also vortex lattices. Our discussion is founded on the mean-field theory provided by the dipolar Gross-Pitaevskii equation, ranging from analytic treatments based on the Thomas-Fermi (hydrodynamic) and variational approaches to full numerical simulations. Routes for generating vortices in dipolar condensates are discussed, with particular attention paid to rotating condensates, where surface instabilities drive the nucleation of vortices, and lead to the emergence of rich and varied vortex lattice structures. We also present an outlook, including potential extensions to degenerate Fermi gases, quantum Hall physics, toroidal systems and the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition.

Jian‐Ming Tang

Su Yi