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arXiv:cond-mat/0107302 · Physical Review A

Skyrmion physics in Bose-Einstein ferromagnets

Usama Al Khawaja, Henk T. C. Stoof

Published Sep 19, 2001• 75 citations
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Abstract

We show that a ferromagnetic Bose-Einstein condensate has not only line-like vortex excitations, but in general, also allows for pointlike topological excitations, i.e., skyrmions. We discuss the thermodynamic stability and the dynamic properties of these skyrmions for both spin-1/2 and ferromagnetic spin-1 Bose gases.
DOI
10.1103/physreva.64.043612

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The recently realized multicomponent Bose-Einstein condensates provide opportunities to explore the rich physics brought about by the spin degrees of freedom. For instance, we can study spin waves and phase separation, macroscopic quantum tunneling, Rabi oscillations, the coupling between spin gradients and superfluid flow, squeezed spin states, vortices and other topological excitations. Theoretically, there have been already some studies of the ground-state properties of these systems and their line-like vortex excitations. In analogy with nuclear physics or the quantum Hall effect, we explore here the possibility of observing point-like topological excitations or skyrmions. These are nontrivial spin textures that in principle can exist in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we investigate the stability of skyrmions in a fictitious spin-1/2 condensate of Rb87 atoms. We find that skyrmions can exist in this case only as a metastable state, but with a lifetime of the order of, or even longer than, the typical lifetime of the condensate itself. In addition to determining the size and the lifetime of the skyrmion, we also present its spin texture and finally briefly consider its dynamical properties.
The spin degrees of freedom in multicomponent Bose–Einstein condensates allow for various types of topological excitations, such as skyrmions and knots. Systems with high spins offer a broader range of internal symmetries. For instance, in spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates, one can observe not only the two-dimensional (2D) skyrmion spin texture but also the bimeron spin texture. However, it remains challenging to experimentally create or stabilize a bimeron and identify the conditions that facilitate its formation. In this context, our research predicts a novel form of topological structure known as the domain wall bimeron in ferromagnetic spin-1 Bose–Einstein condensates by manipulating the magnetic field. Unlike conventional 2D skyrmions, this unique bimeron exhibits a non-axisymmetric spin texture and features complex off-axis vortices whose cores are connected by domain walls. This work significantly contributes to the study of 2D topological excitations in quantum matter with high spins.
Dynamics of skyrmionic spin texture in the spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate is examined by analytical and numerical means. We show the skyrmion (coreless vortex) to be inherently unstable in the sense that the state initially prepared purely within the antiferromagnetic (ferromagnetic) order parameter manifold inevitably evolves into a mixture of both. The vorticity-dependent drift in the presence of the trapping potential also contributes to the disintegration of the initial spin texture manifold. We argue that the notion of a skyrmion as a topologically protected entity becomes ill defined during the dynamical evolution process.