Summary form only given. For most values of magnetic field, very cold /sup 85/Rb atoms have a large negative scattering length and large loss rates from magnetic traps. The latter makes it difficult to cool the atoms low enough to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation (BBC), while the former constrains the size of a possible BEC to <100 atoms. However, we have found that near the Feshbach resonance at 154 G the loss rates decrease substantially, and the scattering length can be made positive. We have used these two features to create condensates of several thousand atoms in /sup 85/Rb. We are then able to study the dynamics and loss processes of these condensates as we vary the magnetic field. Small changes in magnetic field give rise to large changes in the magnitude and sign of the self-interaction in the condensate as well as possible couplings to molecular condensates. We will discuss the wide range of behaviors we have observed in this interesting system.Summary form only given. For most values of magnetic field, very cold /sup 85/Rb atoms have a large negative scattering length and large loss rates from magnetic traps. The latter makes it difficult to cool the atoms low enough to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation (BBC), while the former constrains the size of a possible BEC to <100 atoms. However, we have found that near the Feshbach resonance at 154 G the loss rates decrease substantially, and the scattering length can be made positive. We have used these two features to create condensates of several thousand atoms in /sup 85/Rb. We are then able to study the dynamics and loss processes of these condensates as we vary the magnetic field. Small changes in magnetic field give rise to large changes in the magnitude and sign of the self-interaction in the condensate as well as possible couplings to molecular condensates. We will discuss the wide range of behaviors we have observed in this interesting system.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science ConferenceMay 12, 20000 citations

Two-component Bose gas trapped by harmonic and annular potentials: Supercurrent, vortex flow and instability of superfluidity by Rabi coupling

Hayato Ino, Yoshihito Kuno, Ikuo Ichinose

In this paper, we study a system of two-component Bose gas in an artificial magnetic field trapped by concentric harmonic and annular potentials, respectively. The system is realized by gases with two-internal states like the hyperfine states of $^{87}$ Rb. We are interested in effects of a Rabi oscillation between them. Two-component Bose Hubbard model is introduced to describe the system, and Gross-Pitaevskii equations are used to study the system. We first study the Bose gas system in the annular trap by varying the width of the annulus and strength of the magnetic field, in particular, we focus on the phase slip and superflow. Then we consider the coupled Bose gas system in a magnetic field. In a strong magnetic field, vortices form a Abrikosov triangular lattice in both Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and locations of vortices in the BECs correlate with each other by the Rabi coupling. However, as the strength of the Rabi coupling is increased, vortices start to vibrate around their equilibrium locations. As the strength is increased further, vortices in the harmonic trap start to move along the boundaries of the annulus. Finally for a large Rabi coupling, the BECs are destroyed. Based on our findings about the BEC in the annular trap, we discuss the origin of above mentioned phenomena.In this paper, we study a system of two-component Bose gas in an artificial magnetic field trapped by concentric harmonic and annular potentials, respectively. The system is realized by gases with two-internal states like the hyperfine states of $^{87}$Rb. We are interested in effects of a Rabi oscillation between them. Two-component Bose Hubbard model is introduced to describe the system, and Gross-Pitaevskii equations are used to study the system. We first study the Bose gas system in the annular trap by varying the width of the annulus and strength of the magnetic field, in particular, we focus on the phase slip and superflow. Then we consider the coupled Bose gas system in a magnetic field. In a strong magnetic field, vortices form a Abrikosov triangular lattice in both Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and locations of vortices in the BECs correlate with each other by the Rabi coupling. However, as the strength of the Rabi coupling is increased, vortices start to vibrate around their equilibrium locations. As the strength is increased further, vortices in the harmonic trap start to move along the boundaries of the annulus. Finally for a large Rabi coupling, the BECs are destroyed. Based on our findings about the BEC in the annular trap, we discuss the origin of above mentioned phenomena.

arXiv:1503.08906Mar 31, 20151 citation

Vortex Dynamics in Atomic BECs: Some Recent Developments

P. G. Kevrekidis

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 2, 20150 citations

^{87}

Rb. We are interested in effects of a Rabi oscillation between them. Two-component Bose Hubbard model is introduced to describe the system, and Gross-Pitaevskii equations are used to study the system. We first study the Bose gas system in the annular trap by varying the width of the annulus and strength of the magnetic field, in particular, we focus on the phase slip and superflow. Then we consider the coupled Bose gas system in a magnetic field. In a strong magnetic field, vortices form a Abrikosov triangular lattice in both Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and locations of vortices in the BECs correlate with each other by the Rabi coupling. However, as the strength of the Rabi coupling is increased, vortices start to vibrate around their equilibrium locations. As the strength is increased further, vortices in the harmonic trap start to move along the boundaries of the annulus. Finally for a large Rabi coupling, the BECs are destroyed. Based on our findings about the BEC in the annular trap, we discuss the origin of above mentioned phenomena.