Q-ball dynamics from atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

Relativistic scalar field theories with a conserved global charge Q often possess (meta)stable spherically symmetric soliton solutions, called Q-balls. We elaborate on the perfect formal analogy which exists between Q-balls and spherically symmetric solitons in certain non-relativistic atomic Bose–Einstein condensates, for which the dominant interatomic interaction can be tuned attractive. In a harmonic trap, present in existing experiments, the Q-ball solution is modified in an essential way. If the trap is significantly prolongated in one direction, however, then genuine solitons do appear, and actual experimental data can be obtained for some of the Q-ball properties studied numerically in the relativistic cosmological context, such as their formation and collisions. We also suggest conditions under which the same cosmologically relevant analogies could be extended to the fully three-dimensional case.Relativistic scalar field theories with a conserved global charge Q often possess (meta)stable spherically symmetric soliton solutions, called Q-balls. We elaborate on the perfect formal analogy which exists between Q-balls and spherically symmetric solitons in certain non-relativistic atomic Bose–Einstein condensates, for which the dominant interatomic interaction can be tuned attractive. In a harmonic trap, present in existing experiments, the Q-ball solution is modified in an essential way. If the trap is significantly prolongated in one direction, however, then genuine solitons do appear, and actual experimental data can be obtained for some of the Q-ball properties studied numerically in the relativistic cosmological context, such as their formation and collisions. We also suggest conditions under which the same cosmologically relevant analogies could be extended to the fully three-dimensional case.

arXiv:cond-mat/0304355Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle PhysicsAug 21, 200328 citations

Self-trapped quantum balls in binary Bose–Einstein condensates

Sandeep Gautam, S K Adhikari

Abstract We study the formation of a stable self-trapped spherical quantum ball in a binary Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-body inter-species attraction and intra-species repulsion employing the beyond-mean-field Lee–Huang–Yang and the three-body interactions. We find that either of these interactions or a combination of them can stabilize the binary BEC quantum ball with very similar stationary results, and for a complete description of the problem both the terms should be considered. These interactions lead to higher-order nonlinearities, e.g. quartic and quintic, respectively, in a nonlinear dynamical equation compared to the cubic nonlinearity of the two-body contact interaction in the mean-field Gross–Pitaevskii equation. The higher-order nonlinearity makes the energy infinitely large at the center of the binary ball and thus avoids its collapse. In addition to the formation of stationary binary balls, we also study a collision between two such balls. At large velocities, the collision is found to be elastic, which turns out to be inelastic as the velocity is lowered. We consider the numerical solution of a beyond-mean-field model for the binary ball as well as a single-mode variational approximation to it in this study.Abstract We study the formation of a stable self-trapped spherical quantum ball in a binary Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) with two-body inter-species attraction and intra-species repulsion employing the beyond-mean-field Lee–Huang–Yang and the three-body interactions. We find that either of these interactions or a combination of them can stabilize the binary BEC quantum ball with very similar stationary results, and for a complete description of the problem both the terms should be considered. These interactions lead to higher-order nonlinearities, e.g. quartic and quintic, respectively, in a nonlinear dynamical equation compared to the cubic nonlinearity of the two-body contact interaction in the mean-field Gross–Pitaevskii equation. The higher-order nonlinearity makes the energy infinitely large at the center of the binary ball and thus avoids its collapse. In addition to the formation of stationary binary balls, we also study a collision between two such balls. At large velocities, the collision is found to be elastic, which turns out to be inelastic as the velocity is lowered. We consider the numerical solution of a beyond-mean-field model for the binary ball as well as a single-mode variational approximation to it in this study.

arXiv:1807.08431Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJan 2, 201930 citations

Attractive versus repulsive interactions in the Bose-Einstein condensation dynamics of relativistic field theories

Jürgen Berges, Kirill Boguslavski, Aleksandr Chatrchyan +1 more

We study the impact of attractive self-interactions on the nonequilibrium dynamics of relativistic quantum fields with large occupancies at low momenta. Our primary focus is on Bose-Einstein condensation and nonthermal fixed points in such systems. For a model system, we consider $\mathcal{O}(N)$ -symmetric scalar field theories. We use classical-statistical real-time simulations as well as a systematic $1/N$ expansion of the quantum (two-particle-irreducible) effective action to next-to-leading order. When the mean self-interactions are repulsive, condensation occurs as a consequence of a universal inverse particle cascade to the zero-momentum mode with self-similar scaling behavior. For attractive mean self-interactions, the inverse cascade is absent, and the particle annihilation rate is enhanced compared to the repulsive case, which counteracts the formation of coherent field configurations. For $N\ensuremath{\ge}2$, the presence of a nonvanishing conserved charge can suppress number-changing processes and lead to the formation of stable localized charge clumps, i.e., $Q$ balls.We study the impact of attractive self-interactions on the nonequilibrium dynamics of relativistic quantum fields with large occupancies at low momenta. Our primary focus is on Bose-Einstein condensation and nonthermal fixed points in such systems. For a model system, we consider $\mathcal{O}(N)$-symmetric scalar field theories. We use classical-statistical real-time simulations as well as a systematic $1/N$ expansion of the quantum (two-particle-irreducible) effective action to next-to-leading order. When the mean self-interactions are repulsive, condensation occurs as a consequence of a universal inverse particle cascade to the zero-momentum mode with self-similar scaling behavior. For attractive mean self-interactions, the inverse cascade is absent, and the particle annihilation rate is enhanced compared to the repulsive case, which counteracts the formation of coherent field configurations. For $N\ensuremath{\ge}2$, the presence of a nonvanishing conserved charge can suppress number-changing processes and lead to the formation of stable localized charge clumps, i.e., $Q$ balls.

arXiv:1707.07696Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Oct 30, 201718 citations

Bose-Einstein condensate in a shell: nonlinear modes and symmetry breaking

Alexander Wolf, Vladimir V. Konotop, Maxim A. Efremov

The state of a quantum particle confined to a spherical surface is commonly described using spherical harmonics, which play a crucial role in solving many scientific problems featuring spherical symmetry. A mean-field description of a system of many interacting quantum particles confined to a spherical shell naturally leads to nonlinear generalizations of spherical harmonics. In this study, we analyze the emergence of such nonlinear modes in a shell-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate with both repulsive and attractive two-particle interactions. We find several classes of nonlinear modes. The first kind is an analytical continuation of a single spherical harmonic or their superposition for nonvanishing atom-atom interaction. Some of these solutions have planar counterparts in the form of Townes solitons and Townes vortices, which either appear stable even in the case of attractive interactions or can be stabilized by three-particle interactions. The second kind originate from symmetry-breaking bifurcations in the case of a repulsive interaction, and therefore have no linear counterparts. Moreover, we demonstrate the existence of a breathing dynamics that oscillates primarily between an unstable soliton and a stable vortex necklace state. Our findings show that the physics of nonlinear matter waves on curved geometries differs substantially from that in planar systems, suggesting the feasibility of observing these unconventional wave patterns experimentally.The state of a quantum particle confined to a spherical surface is commonly described using spherical harmonics, which play a crucial role in solving many scientific problems featuring spherical symmetry. A mean-field description of a system of many interacting quantum particles confined to a spherical shell naturally leads to nonlinear generalizations of spherical harmonics. In this study, we analyze the emergence of such nonlinear modes in a shell-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate with both repulsive and attractive two-particle interactions. We find several classes of nonlinear modes. The first kind is an analytical continuation of a single spherical harmonic or their superposition for nonvanishing atom-atom interaction. Some of these solutions have planar counterparts in the form of Townes solitons and Townes vortices, which either appear stable even in the case of attractive interactions or can be stabilized by three-particle interactions. The second kind originate from symmetry-breaking bifurcations in the case of a repulsive interaction, and therefore have no linear counterparts. Moreover, we demonstrate the existence of a breathing dynamics that oscillates primarily between an unstable soliton and a stable vortex necklace state. Our findings show that the physics of nonlinear matter waves on curved geometries differs substantially from that in planar systems, suggesting the feasibility of observing these unconventional wave patterns experimentally.

cond-mat.quant-gasCross-listedarXiv:2610.32249Oct 26, 20260 citations

Soliton dynamics in the collisions of Bose - Einstein condensates: an analogue of the Josephson effect

William P. Reinhardt, Charles W. Clark

The usual mean-field description of trapped atomic Bose - Einstein condensates predicts the existence of solitons in one-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional confinement. If the net atomic pair interaction is attractive, these solitons appear as coherently propagating matter wavepackets; if it is repulsive, soliton behaviour is seen in the motion of `holes' in the condensate density, the velocity of which is determined by the phase difference between adjoining pieces of condensate, in analogy to the familiar Josephson effect. We explore the properties of these solitons via elementary analytic models and computer simulation, and make specific suggestions for their experimental observation.The usual mean-field description of trapped atomic Bose - Einstein condensates predicts the existence of solitons in one-dimensional and quasi-one-dimensional confinement. If the net atomic pair interaction is attractive, these solitons appear as coherently propagating matter wavepackets; if it is repulsive, soliton behaviour is seen in the motion of `holes' in the condensate density, the velocity of which is determined by the phase difference between adjoining pieces of condensate, in analogy to the familiar Josephson effect. We explore the properties of these solitons via elementary analytic models and computer simulation, and make specific suggestions for their experimental observation.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsNov 28, 1997173 citations

Dark spherical shell solitons in three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates: Existence, stability, and dynamics

Wenlong Wang, P. G. Kevrekidis, R. Carretero-González +1 more

In this work we study spherical shell dark soliton states in three-dimensional atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Their symmetry is exploited in order to analyze their existence, as well as that of topologically charged variants of the structures, and, importantly, to identify their linear stability Bogoliubov--de Gennes spectrum. We compare our effective one-dimensional spherical and two-dimensional cylindrical computations with the full three-dimensional numerics. An important conclusion is that such spherical shell solitons can be stable sufficiently close to the linear limit of the isotropic condensates considered herein. We have also identified their instabilities leading to the emergence of vortex line and vortex ring cages. In addition, we generalize effective particle pictures of lower-dimensional dark solitons and ring dark solitons to the spherical shell solitons concerning their equilibrium radius and effective dynamics around it. In this case too, we favorably compare, qualitatively and quantitatively, the resulting predictions such as the shell equilibrium radius with full numerical solutions in three dimensions.In this work we study spherical shell dark soliton states in three-dimensional atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. Their symmetry is exploited in order to analyze their existence, as well as that of topologically charged variants of the structures, and, importantly, to identify their linear stability Bogoliubov--de Gennes spectrum. We compare our effective one-dimensional spherical and two-dimensional cylindrical computations with the full three-dimensional numerics. An important conclusion is that such spherical shell solitons can be stable sufficiently close to the linear limit of the isotropic condensates considered herein. We have also identified their instabilities leading to the emergence of vortex line and vortex ring cages. In addition, we generalize effective particle pictures of lower-dimensional dark solitons and ring dark solitons to the spherical shell solitons concerning their equilibrium radius and effective dynamics around it. In this case too, we favorably compare, qualitatively and quantitatively, the resulting predictions such as the shell equilibrium radius with full numerical solutions in three dimensions.

arXiv:1601.02176Physical Review AFeb 19, 201666 citations

\mathcal{O}(N)

-symmetric scalar field theories. We use classical-statistical real-time simulations as well as a systematic

1/N

expansion of the quantum (two-particle-irreducible) effective action to next-to-leading order. When the mean self-interactions are repulsive, condensation occurs as a consequence of a universal inverse particle cascade to the zero-momentum mode with self-similar scaling behavior. For attractive mean self-interactions, the inverse cascade is absent, and the particle annihilation rate is enhanced compared to the repulsive case, which counteracts the formation of coherent field configurations. For $N\ensuremath{\ge}2$, the presence of a nonvanishing conserved charge can suppress number-changing processes and lead to the formation of stable localized charge clumps, i.e.,

Q

balls.