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

arXiv:cond-mat/0106182 · Physical Review Letters

Direct Observation of Irrotational Flow and Evidence of Superfluidity in a Rotating Bose-Einstein Condensate

Gerald Hechenblaikner, E. Hodby, S. A. Hopkins, Onofrio M. Maragò, Christopher J. Foot

Published Jan 31, 2002• 49 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We have observed the expansion of vortex-free, rotating Bose condensates after their sudden release from a slowly rotating anisotropic trap. Conservation of angular momentum, combined with the constraint of irrotational flow, cause the rotating condensate to expand in a distinctively different way to one released from a static (nonrotating) trap. This difference provides clear experimental evidence of the purely irrotational velocity field associated with a superfluid. We observed this behavior in absorption images taken along the rotation axis.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.88.070406

Related papers

Consequence of Superfluidity on the Expansion of a Rotating Bose-Einstein Condensate

Mark Edwards, Charles W. Clark, P. Pedri +2 more

We propose an easily detectable signature of superfluidity in rotating, vortex-free gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates. We have studied the time evolution of the expansion of such a condensate after it is released from the confining trap. We find that if such a condensate is not initially rotating, then at some moment it will instantaneously achieve a circular cross section. If the condensate is initially rotating its irrotational flow and the conservation of angular momentum prevent the released condensate from attaining a circular cross section, since the instantaneous moment of inertia is then proportional to the asymmetry of this cross section.

arXiv:cond-mat/0106080•Physical Review Letters•Jan 31, 2002•27 citations

Vortex state structure of a Bose condensate in an asymmetric trap

Anatoly A. Svidzinsky, Alexander L. Fetter

Based on an analytic solution of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation in the large-condensate (Thomas–Fermi) limit we determine the structure of a stationary vortex in a Bose–Einstein condensate in a nonaxisymmetric rotating trap. The condensate velocity field has cylindrical symmetry only near the vortex core and becomes intrinsically anisotropic near the condensate boundaries. Rotating the anisotropic trap induces an additional irrotational velocity field even for a vortex-free condensate.

arXiv:cond-mat/9906182•Physica B Condensed Matter•Jul 1, 2000•3 citations

Overcritical Rotation of a Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensate

Alessio Recati, Francesca Zambelli, S. Stringari

The rotational motion of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate confined by a harmonic trap is investigated by solving the hydrodynamic equations of superfluids, with the irrotationality constraint for the velocity field. We point out the occurrence of an overcritical branch where the system can rotate with angular velocity larger than the oscillator frequencies. We show that in the case of isotropic trapping the system exhibits a bifurcation from an axisymmetric to a triaxial configuration, as a consequence of the interatomic forces. The dynamical stability of the rotational motion with respect to the dipole and quadrupole oscillations is explicitly discussed.

arXiv:cond-mat/0007152•Physical Review Letters•Jan 15, 2001•139 citations

Superfluidity and Rotation of a Trapped Bose Gas

Лев П. Питаевский, S. Stringari

Abstract This chapter is devoted to discussing some key superfluid properties exhibited by dilute Bose gases confined in external traps. Key issues concern the behaviour of the critical velocity and the applicability of Landau’s criterion for superfluidity, the moment of inertia and its quenching caused by the irrotationality of the superfluid motion, the scissors mode, and the expansion of a rotating superfluid cloud. Rotational effects at high angular velocities, with the appearance of quantized vortices and vortex lattices, are also considered. The chapter also discusses the consequences for vortices on the collective oscillations of the trapped gas, the stability and the precession of vortex lines, and the nature of the superfluid flow in toroidal traps.

•Jan 1, 2016•0 citations

Observation of Nearly Perfect Irrotational Flow in Normal and Superfluid Strongly Interacting Fermi Gases

Bason E. Clancy, Le Luo, John E. Thomas

We study the hydrodynamic expansion of a rotating strongly interacting Fermi gas by releasing a cigar-shaped cloud with a known angular momentum from an optical trap. As the aspect ratio of the expanding cloud approaches unity, the angular velocity increases, indicating quenching of the moment of inertia I to as low as 0.05 of the rigid body value I(rig). Remarkably, we observe this behavior in both the superfluid and collisional normal fluid regimes, which obey nearly identical zero-viscosity irrotational hydrodynamics. We attribute irrotational flow in the normal fluid to a decay of the rotational part of the stream velocity during expansion, which occurs when the shear viscosity is negligible. Using conservation of angular momentum, we directly observe a fundamental result of irrotational hydrodynamics, I/I(rig) = delta2, where delta is the deformation parameter of the cloud.

arXiv:0705.2782•Physical Review Letters•Oct 1, 2007•46 citations

Expansion dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates in a synthetic magnetic field

Juan Wang, Hongguang Liang, Yan Li +2 more

We investigate the expansion dynamics of spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates subjected to a synthetic magnetic field, after their release from an external harmonic trap. Our findings reveal that the condensate experiences a spin-dependent rotation and separation due to the rigid-like rotational velocity field, which leads to a spin-density deflection. The deflection angle reaches a peak at an expansion time that is inversely related to the trap frequency. When the detuning gradient is below a critical value for vortex nucleation, our analytical results derived from a spinor hydrodynamic theory align closely with numerical results using the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations. Beyond this critical value, we also numerically simulated the expansion dynamics of the condensates containing vortices with negative circulation. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of the rigid-like rotational velocity field on the dynamics of the condensate and may stimulate further experimental investigations into the rich superfluid dynamics induced by synthetic magnetic fields.

arXiv:2402.17691•Physical Review A•Oct 8, 2024•5 citations
We have observed the expansion of vortex-free, rotating Bose condensates after their sudden release from a slowly rotating anisotropic trap. Conservation of angular momentum, combined with the constraint of irrotational flow, cause the rotating condensate to expand in a distinctively different way to one released from a static (nonrotating) trap. This difference provides clear experimental evidence of the purely irrotational velocity field associated with a superfluid. We observed this behavior in absorption images taken along the rotation axis.
We propose an easily detectable signature of superfluidity in rotating, vortex-free gaseous Bose-Einstein condensates. We have studied the time evolution of the expansion of such a condensate after it is released from the confining trap. We find that if such a condensate is not initially rotating, then at some moment it will instantaneously achieve a circular cross section. If the condensate is initially rotating its irrotational flow and the conservation of angular momentum prevent the released condensate from attaining a circular cross section, since the instantaneous moment of inertia is then proportional to the asymmetry of this cross section.
The rotational motion of an interacting Bose-Einstein condensate confined by a harmonic trap is investigated by solving the hydrodynamic equations of superfluids, with the irrotationality constraint for the velocity field. We point out the occurrence of an overcritical branch where the system can rotate with angular velocity larger than the oscillator frequencies. We show that in the case of isotropic trapping the system exhibits a bifurcation from an axisymmetric to a triaxial configuration, as a consequence of the interatomic forces. The dynamical stability of the rotational motion with respect to the dipole and quadrupole oscillations is explicitly discussed.
Abstract This chapter is devoted to discussing some key superfluid properties exhibited by dilute Bose gases confined in external traps. Key issues concern the behaviour of the critical velocity and the applicability of Landau’s criterion for superfluidity, the moment of inertia and its quenching caused by the irrotationality of the superfluid motion, the scissors mode, and the expansion of a rotating superfluid cloud. Rotational effects at high angular velocities, with the appearance of quantized vortices and vortex lattices, are also considered. The chapter also discusses the consequences for vortices on the collective oscillations of the trapped gas, the stability and the precession of vortex lines, and the nature of the superfluid flow in toroidal traps.
We study the hydrodynamic expansion of a rotating strongly interacting Fermi gas by releasing a cigar-shaped cloud with a known angular momentum from an optical trap. As the aspect ratio of the expanding cloud approaches unity, the angular velocity increases, indicating quenching of the moment of inertia I to as low as 0.05 of the rigid body value I(rig). Remarkably, we observe this behavior in both the superfluid and collisional normal fluid regimes, which obey nearly identical zero-viscosity irrotational hydrodynamics. We attribute irrotational flow in the normal fluid to a decay of the rotational part of the stream velocity during expansion, which occurs when the shear viscosity is negligible. Using conservation of angular momentum, we directly observe a fundamental result of irrotational hydrodynamics, I/I(rig) = delta2, where delta is the deformation parameter of the cloud.
We investigate the expansion dynamics of spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates subjected to a synthetic magnetic field, after their release from an external harmonic trap. Our findings reveal that the condensate experiences a spin-dependent rotation and separation due to the rigid-like rotational velocity field, which leads to a spin-density deflection. The deflection angle reaches a peak at an expansion time that is inversely related to the trap frequency. When the detuning gradient is below a critical value for vortex nucleation, our analytical results derived from a spinor hydrodynamic theory align closely with numerical results using the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations. Beyond this critical value, we also numerically simulated the expansion dynamics of the condensates containing vortices with negative circulation. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of the rigid-like rotational velocity field on the dynamics of the condensate and may stimulate further experimental investigations into the rich superfluid dynamics induced by synthetic magnetic fields.