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

Physical Review Letters

Vortex Formation in Dilute Inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein Condensates

Brian K. Jackson, J F McCann, Charles S. Adams

Published May 4, 1998• 167 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We solve the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii in 2D to simulate the flow of an object through a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in a harmonic well. We demonstrate vortex formation and study the process in terms of the accumulation of phase slip and the evolution of the fluid velocity.
DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.80.3903

Related papers

Vortex formation in weakly-interacting inhomogeneous Bose condensates

Brian K. Jackson, J F McCann, Charles S. Adams

We solve the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii in 2-D to simulate the flow of an object through a dilute Bose condensate trapped in a harmonic well. We demonstrate vortex formation and analyze the process in terms of the accumulation of phase-slip and the evolution of the fluid velocity.

arXiv:cond-mat/9712096•Dec 9, 1997•0 citations

Motion of an object through a quantum fluid

T. Winiecki, Charles S. Adams

We simulate the motion of a massive object through a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate by numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation coupled to an equation of motion for the object. Under a constant applied force, the object accelerates up to a maximum velocity where a vortex ring is formed which slows the object down. If the applied force is less than a critical value, the object becomes trapped within the vortex core. We show that the motion follows the time-independent solutions, and use these solutions to predict the conditions required for vortex detachment.

arXiv:cond-mat/0006125•Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Nov 1, 2000•46 citations

Nucleation of vortex arrays in rotating anisotropic Bose-Einstein condensates

David L. Feder, Charles W. Clark, Barry I. Schneider

The nucleation of vortices and the resulting structures of vortex arrays in dilute, trapped, zero-temperature Bose-Einstein condensates are investigated numerically. Vortices are generated by rotating a three-dimensional, anisotropic harmonic atom trap. The condensate ground state is obtained by propagating the Gross-Pitaevskii equation in imaginary time. Vortices first appear at a rotation frequency significantly larger than the critical frequency for vortex stabilization, consistent with a critical velocity mechanism for vortex nucleation. At higher frequencies, the structures of the vortex arrays are strongly influenced by trap geometry.

arXiv:cond-mat/9910288•Physical Review A•Dec 8, 1999•95 citations

Vortex shedding and drag in dilute Bose-Einstein condensates

T. Winiecki, Jackson, B., McCann, Jim +1 more

Above a critical velocity, the dominant mechanism of energy transfer between a moving object and a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate is vortex formation. In this paper, we discuss the critical velocity for vortex formation and the link between vortex shedding and drag in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous condensates. We find that at supersonic velocities sound radiation also contributes significantly to the drag force.

•Oct 14, 2000•47 citations

Motion of vortices in inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensates

Andrew J. Groszek, David M. Paganin, Kristian Helmerson +1 more

We derive a general and exact equation of motion for a quantized vortex in an inhomogeneous two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate. This equation expresses the velocity of a vortex as a sum of local ambient density and phase gradients in the vicinity of the vortex. We perform Gross-Pitaevskii simulations of single-vortex dynamics in both harmonic and hard-walled disk-shaped traps, and find excellent agreement in both cases with our analytical prediction. The simulations reveal that, in a harmonic trap, the main contribution to the vortex velocity is an induced ambient phase gradient, a finding that contradicts the commonly quoted result that the local density gradient is the only relevant effect in this scenario. We use our analytical vortex velocity formula to derive a point-vortex model that accounts for both density and phase contributions to the vortex velocity, suitable for use in inhomogeneous condensates. Although good agreement is obtained between Gross-Pitaevskii and point-vortex simulations for specific few-vortex configurations, the effects of nonuniform condensate density are in general highly nontrivial, and are thus difficult to efficiently and accurately model using a simplified point-vortex description.

arXiv:1708.09202•Physical Review A•Feb 12, 2018•55 citations

Vortex shedding and drag in dilute Bose-Einstein condensates

T Winiecki, B Jackson, J F McCann +1 more

Above a critical velocity, the dominant mechanism of energy transfer between a moving object and a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate is vortex formation. In this paper, we discuss the critical velocity for vortex formation and the link between vortex shedding and drag in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous condensates. We find that at supersonic velocities sound radiation also contributes significantly to the drag force.

arXiv:cond-mat/0004430•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Sep 15, 2000•83 citations
We simulate the motion of a massive object through a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate by numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation coupled to an equation of motion for the object. Under a constant applied force, the object accelerates up to a maximum velocity where a vortex ring is formed which slows the object down. If the applied force is less than a critical value, the object becomes trapped within the vortex core. We show that the motion follows the time-independent solutions, and use these solutions to predict the conditions required for vortex detachment.
The nucleation of vortices and the resulting structures of vortex arrays in dilute, trapped, zero-temperature Bose-Einstein condensates are investigated numerically. Vortices are generated by rotating a three-dimensional, anisotropic harmonic atom trap. The condensate ground state is obtained by propagating the Gross-Pitaevskii equation in imaginary time. Vortices first appear at a rotation frequency significantly larger than the critical frequency for vortex stabilization, consistent with a critical velocity mechanism for vortex nucleation. At higher frequencies, the structures of the vortex arrays are strongly influenced by trap geometry.
We derive a general and exact equation of motion for a quantized vortex in an inhomogeneous two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate. This equation expresses the velocity of a vortex as a sum of local ambient density and phase gradients in the vicinity of the vortex. We perform Gross-Pitaevskii simulations of single-vortex dynamics in both harmonic and hard-walled disk-shaped traps, and find excellent agreement in both cases with our analytical prediction. The simulations reveal that, in a harmonic trap, the main contribution to the vortex velocity is an induced ambient phase gradient, a finding that contradicts the commonly quoted result that the local density gradient is the only relevant effect in this scenario. We use our analytical vortex velocity formula to derive a point-vortex model that accounts for both density and phase contributions to the vortex velocity, suitable for use in inhomogeneous condensates. Although good agreement is obtained between Gross-Pitaevskii and point-vortex simulations for specific few-vortex configurations, the effects of nonuniform condensate density are in general highly nontrivial, and are thus difficult to efficiently and accurately model using a simplified point-vortex description.