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

New Journal of Physics

Quench dynamics and thermalization constraints in a spin–orbit–coupled Bose gas

Dylan Brown, Maarten D. Hoogerland

Published Aug 1, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We experimentally investigate the quench dynamics of a spin–orbit–coupled (SOC) Bose–Einstein condensate and its subsequent thermalization. We measure the damping of momentum oscillations and find that the damping rate increases with SOC strength. Comparing the observed damping to theoretical estimates of spin drag in the absence of SOC, we find comparable order-of-magnitude scales, establishing a reference for dissipative processes involving thermal atoms. We emphasize that this comparison provides a baseline rather than a quantitative description of the SOC system. In addition, we directly measure the final temperature after relaxation and observe a decrease with increasing coupling strength. These results provide experimentally constrained benchmarks for finite-temperature theories of non-equilibrium dynamics in SOC quantum gases.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/ae9635

Related papers

Thermalization in a Spin-Orbit coupled Bose gas by enhanced spin Coulomb drag

Brown, D. J., Maarten D. Hoogerland

An important component of the structure of the atom, the effects of spin-orbit coupling are present in many sub-fields of physics. Most of these effects are present continuously. We present a detailed study of the dynamics of changing the spin-orbit coupling in an ultra-cold Bose gas, coupling the motion of the atoms to their spin. We find that the spin-orbit coupling greatly increases the damping towards equilibrium. We interpret this damping as spin drag, which is enhanced by spin-orbit coupling rate, scaled by a remarkable factor of $8.9(6)$~s. We also find that spin-orbit coupling lowers the final temperature of the Bose gas after thermalization.

arXiv:2110.07094•Oct 14, 2021•0 citations

Spin current generation and relaxation in a quenched spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate

Chuan-Hsun Li, Chunlei Qu, Robert Niffenegger +9 more

Abstract Understanding the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and many-body interactions on spin transport is important in condensed matter physics and spintronics. This topic has been intensively studied for spin carriers such as electrons but barely explored for charge-neutral bosonic quasiparticles (including their condensates), which hold promises for coherent spin transport over macroscopic distances. Here, we explore the effects of synthetic SOC (induced by optical Raman coupling) and atomic interactions on the spin transport in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), where the spin-dipole mode (SDM, actuated by quenching the Raman coupling) of two interacting spin components constitutes an alternating spin current. We experimentally observe that SOC significantly enhances the SDM damping while reducing the thermalization (the reduction of the condensate fraction). We also observe generation of BEC collective excitations such as shape oscillations. Our theory reveals that the SOC-modified interference, immiscibility, and interaction between the spin components can play crucial roles in spin transport.

•Jan 1, 2019•27 citations

Spin dynamics in spin-orbit-coupled spin-2 dipolar ultracold atomic gases

Qiang Zhao

In this paper, we study the spin dynamics of spin-orbit-coupled (SOC) spin-2 Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) with dipole–dipole interaction (DDI). Numerical results are obtained by solving the nonlocal Gross–Pitaevskii equation. Our discussions are divided into two parts. In the absence of DDI, the spin dynamics presents periodic oscillation. Increasing the magnetization makes the amplitude increase, and increasing SOC strength accelerates the spin dynamics and thus changes the period. Nevertheless, in the presence of DDI, the periodicity oscillation of spin dynamics is broken. The thermalization time decreases with the increase of magnetization for fixed SOC strength. In addition, the thermalization time becomes zero with strong SOC strength when magnetization is fixed. We also show the formation of domain in density profile when DDI is considered. Moreover, the components m = 2 and m = −2 exchange their location with a little increase of SOC strength. This is a specific reflection of the competition between the SOC and DDI.

Modern Physics Letters B•May 10, 2022•3 citations

Spin current generation and relaxation in a quenched spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate

Chuan-Hsun Li, Chunlei Qu, Robert Niffenegger +9 more

Understanding the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and many-body interactions on spin transport is important in condensed matter physics and spintronics. This topic has been intensively studied for spin carriers such as electrons but barely explored for charge-neutral bosonic quasiparticles (including their condensates), which hold promises for coherent spin transport over macroscopic distances. Here, we explore the effects of synthetic SOC (induced by optical Raman coupling) and atomic interactions on the spin transport in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), where the spin-dipole mode (SDM, actuated by quenching the Raman coupling) of two interacting spin components constitutes an alternating spin current. We experimentally observe that SOC significantly enhances the SDM damping while reducing the thermalization (the reduction of the condensate fraction). We also observe generation of BEC collective excitations such as shape oscillations. Our theory reveals that the SOC-modified interference, immiscibility, and interaction between the spin components can play crucial roles in spin transport.

arXiv:1810.06504•Nature Communications•Jan 22, 2019•40 citations

Non-Equilibrium Dynamics of Bose-Einstein Condensates

D. F. Brown

This thesis presents experiments performed to investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of ultracold bosons. In depth understanding of the behaviour of quantum systems when taken out of equilibrium is of particular interest, especially for the production of quantum computers where thermal effects cause undesirable behaviours. We present our experiments on the thermalization of a87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate taken out of equilibrium by a partial Bragg pulse. We measure the rate of thermalization of the system and measure the temperature of the thermalized state, and compare to numerical simulations. We observe the formation of grey solitons in the thermalized state consistent with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. We also present experiments on artificial gauge potentials with Bose-Einstein condensates. We benchmark the experiments with a uniform synthetic potential and extend to spin-orbit coupled systems. We take the spin-orbit coupled BEC out of equilibrium through the application of a synthetic electric field and measure the thermalization process of the system. We measure the rate at which the system reaches equilibrium as a function of the final Raman coupling strength, and measure the temperature of the thermalized states. We observe the system thermalize into a spin-orbit coupled state with a the final temperature decreasing with increasing Raman coupling.

•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations

CORRELATION PROPERTIES OF ONE-DIMENSIONAL BOSE GASES: EFFECTS OF FINITE TEMPERATURE OR SPIN-ORBIT COUPLING

Shih‐Wen Feng

The coherence of a quantum system is one of the key signatures of many-body physics. While a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) exhibits true long-range coherence, a Bose gas confined in a one-dimensional (1D) potential displays quasi-long-range order. Experimentally, these coherence properties are typically probed via the momentum distribution, which corresponds to the Fourier transform of the one-body correlation function. In two-dimensional (2D) systems, for example, momentum distribution enables the observation of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition from a thermal cloud to a superfluid. With trimodal distribution fitting, an intermediate quasicondensate phase is also revealed. In 1D systems, the momentum distribution of a quenched Tonks-Girardeau (TG) Bose gas can be mapped to that of a non-interacting Fermi gas at a specific evolution time, achieving the rapidity distribution. On the other hand, spin-orbit coupling (SOC) has emerged as one of the central topics in ultracold atomic physics. In additional to creating an artificial electric or magnetic field, researchers also observe negative-mass dynamics in a spin-orbit-coupled BEC by engineering the curvature of the band dispersion. This phenomenon is directly observable in the density distribution of the system. In 1D systems, SOC also introduces rich physical phenomena; while low-energy 1D quantum systems are conventionally described by Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) theory, SOC notably alters the energy-momentum dispersion. This modification gives rise to unconventional Luttinger liquids whose properties are governed by the spin-orbit coupling strength.In this work, we first investigate the qualitative properties of a 1D Bose gas and demonstrate the temperature dependence of the momentum distribution, revealing how the thermal fluctuations destroy the quasi-long-range order. In the second part, we probe the effects of 1D SOC on a 1D Bose gas, focusing on how SOC modifies the energy-momentum dispersion and the resulting momentum distribution. We demonstrate that within a specific parameter regime, the momentum distribution and its associated coherence properties undergo distinct qualitative changes. The occupied higher momentum states induce phase fluctuations and destroy the coherence of the system, showing signals of the non-Luttinger liquid physics. We probe the coherence properties of a 1D system along these two parameter axes.

•Jul 31, 2026•0 citations
Abstract We experimentally investigate the quench dynamics of a spin–orbit–coupled (SOC) Bose–Einstein condensate and its subsequent thermalization. We measure the damping of momentum oscillations and find that the damping rate increases with SOC strength. Comparing the observed damping to theoretical estimates of spin drag in the absence of SOC, we find comparable order-of-magnitude scales, establishing a reference for dissipative processes involving thermal atoms. We emphasize that this comparison provides a baseline rather than a quantitative description of the SOC system. In addition, we directly measure the final temperature after relaxation and observe a decrease with increasing coupling strength. These results provide experimentally constrained benchmarks for finite-temperature theories of non-equilibrium dynamics in SOC quantum gases.
An important component of the structure of the atom, the effects of spin-orbit coupling are present in many sub-fields of physics. Most of these effects are present continuously. We present a detailed study of the dynamics of changing the spin-orbit coupling in an ultra-cold Bose gas, coupling the motion of the atoms to their spin. We find that the spin-orbit coupling greatly increases the damping towards equilibrium. We interpret this damping as spin drag, which is enhanced by spin-orbit coupling rate, scaled by a remarkable factor of 8.9(6)8.9(6)8.9(6)~s. We also find that spin-orbit coupling lowers the final temperature of the Bose gas after thermalization.
Abstract Understanding the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and many-body interactions on spin transport is important in condensed matter physics and spintronics. This topic has been intensively studied for spin carriers such as electrons but barely explored for charge-neutral bosonic quasiparticles (including their condensates), which hold promises for coherent spin transport over macroscopic distances. Here, we explore the effects of synthetic SOC (induced by optical Raman coupling) and atomic interactions on the spin transport in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), where the spin-dipole mode (SDM, actuated by quenching the Raman coupling) of two interacting spin components constitutes an alternating spin current. We experimentally observe that SOC significantly enhances the SDM damping while reducing the thermalization (the reduction of the condensate fraction). We also observe generation of BEC collective excitations such as shape oscillations. Our theory reveals that the SOC-modified interference, immiscibility, and interaction between the spin components can play crucial roles in spin transport.
In this paper, we study the spin dynamics of spin-orbit-coupled (SOC) spin-2 Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) with dipole–dipole interaction (DDI). Numerical results are obtained by solving the nonlocal Gross–Pitaevskii equation. Our discussions are divided into two parts. In the absence of DDI, the spin dynamics presents periodic oscillation. Increasing the magnetization makes the amplitude increase, and increasing SOC strength accelerates the spin dynamics and thus changes the period. Nevertheless, in the presence of DDI, the periodicity oscillation of spin dynamics is broken. The thermalization time decreases with the increase of magnetization for fixed SOC strength. In addition, the thermalization time becomes zero with strong SOC strength when magnetization is fixed. We also show the formation of domain in density profile when DDI is considered. Moreover, the components m = 2 and m = −2 exchange their location with a little increase of SOC strength. This is a specific reflection of the competition between the SOC and DDI.
Understanding the effects of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) and many-body interactions on spin transport is important in condensed matter physics and spintronics. This topic has been intensively studied for spin carriers such as electrons but barely explored for charge-neutral bosonic quasiparticles (including their condensates), which hold promises for coherent spin transport over macroscopic distances. Here, we explore the effects of synthetic SOC (induced by optical Raman coupling) and atomic interactions on the spin transport in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), where the spin-dipole mode (SDM, actuated by quenching the Raman coupling) of two interacting spin components constitutes an alternating spin current. We experimentally observe that SOC significantly enhances the SDM damping while reducing the thermalization (the reduction of the condensate fraction). We also observe generation of BEC collective excitations such as shape oscillations. Our theory reveals that the SOC-modified interference, immiscibility, and interaction between the spin components can play crucial roles in spin transport.
This thesis presents experiments performed to investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of ultracold bosons. In depth understanding of the behaviour of quantum systems when taken out of equilibrium is of particular interest, especially for the production of quantum computers where thermal effects cause undesirable behaviours. We present our experiments on the thermalization of a87Rb Bose-Einstein condensate taken out of equilibrium by a partial Bragg pulse. We measure the rate of thermalization of the system and measure the temperature of the thermalized state, and compare to numerical simulations. We observe the formation of grey solitons in the thermalized state consistent with the Kibble-Zurek mechanism. We also present experiments on artificial gauge potentials with Bose-Einstein condensates. We benchmark the experiments with a uniform synthetic potential and extend to spin-orbit coupled systems. We take the spin-orbit coupled BEC out of equilibrium through the application of a synthetic electric field and measure the thermalization process of the system. We measure the rate at which the system reaches equilibrium as a function of the final Raman coupling strength, and measure the temperature of the thermalized states. We observe the system thermalize into a spin-orbit coupled state with a the final temperature decreasing with increasing Raman coupling.
The coherence of a quantum system is one of the key signatures of many-body physics. While a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) exhibits true long-range coherence, a Bose gas confined in a one-dimensional (1D) potential displays quasi-long-range order. Experimentally, these coherence properties are typically probed via the momentum distribution, which corresponds to the Fourier transform of the one-body correlation function. In two-dimensional (2D) systems, for example, momentum distribution enables the observation of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition from a thermal cloud to a superfluid. With trimodal distribution fitting, an intermediate quasicondensate phase is also revealed. In 1D systems, the momentum distribution of a quenched Tonks-Girardeau (TG) Bose gas can be mapped to that of a non-interacting Fermi gas at a specific evolution time, achieving the rapidity distribution. On the other hand, spin-orbit coupling (SOC) has emerged as one of the central topics in ultracold atomic physics. In additional to creating an artificial electric or magnetic field, researchers also observe negative-mass dynamics in a spin-orbit-coupled BEC by engineering the curvature of the band dispersion. This phenomenon is directly observable in the density distribution of the system. In 1D systems, SOC also introduces rich physical phenomena; while low-energy 1D quantum systems are conventionally described by Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) theory, SOC notably alters the energy-momentum dispersion. This modification gives rise to unconventional Luttinger liquids whose properties are governed by the spin-orbit coupling strength.In this work, we first investigate the qualitative properties of a 1D Bose gas and demonstrate the temperature dependence of the momentum distribution, revealing how the thermal fluctuations destroy the quasi-long-range order. In the second part, we probe the effects of 1D SOC on a 1D Bose gas, focusing on how SOC modifies the energy-momentum dispersion and the resulting momentum distribution. We demonstrate that within a specific parameter regime, the momentum distribution and its associated coherence properties undergo distinct qualitative changes. The occupied higher momentum states induce phase fluctuations and destroy the coherence of the system, showing signals of the non-Luttinger liquid physics. We probe the coherence properties of a 1D system along these two parameter axes.