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/9805228 · Physical Review A

Creation of gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates

O. Zobay, Sierk Pötting, Pierre Meystre, Ewan M. Wright

Published Jan 1, 1999• 127 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We discuss a method to launch gap solitonlike structures in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates confined in optical traps. Bright vector solitons consisting of a superposition of two hyperfine Zeeman sublevels can be created for both attractive and repulsive interactions between the atoms. Their formation relies on the dynamics of the atomic internal ground states in two far-off-resonance counterpropagating $({\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}})$-polarized laser beams that form the optical trap. Numerical simulations show that these solitons can be prepared from a one-component state provided with an initial velocity.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.59.643

Related papers

Generation and detection of matter-wave gap vortices in optical lattices

Elena A. Ostrovskaya, Tristram J. Alexander, Yuri S. Kivshar

We analyze numerically the process of dynamical generation of spatially localized vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC's) with repulsive atomic interactions confined by two-dimensional optical lattices. Akin to bright solitons in a repulsive condensate, these nonlinear localized states exist only within the gaps of the matter-wave band-gap spectrum imposed by the periodicity of the lattice potential. We discuss the complex structure of matter-wave phase singularities associated with different types of stationary gap vortices and suggest two different excitation methods. In one method, the condensate is adiabatically driven to the edge of the Brillouin zone where a vortex phase is subsequently imprinted onto the condensate wave packet. Alternatively, a vortex is created in a condensate confined in a harmonic trap and then is nonadiabatically released into the lattice potential. We find that only the latter method leads to robust and reliable generation of vortices within the gap of the matter-wave band-gap spectrum. Moreover, the nonadiabatic excitation can lead to the formation of broad gap vortices from the initial BEC wave packets with a large number of atoms. These broad vortices are intimately connected to self-trapped nonlinear states of the BEC recently demonstrated in experiments with a one-dimensional optical lattice. Our numerical simulations also confirm the feasibility of a homodyne interferometric detection of broad gap vortices.

Physical Review A•Aug 15, 2006•22 citations

Bright matter wave solitons in Bose–Einstein condensates

Kevin E. Strecker, Guthrie B. Partridge, Andrew G. Truscott +1 more

We review recent experimental and theoretical work on the creation of bright matter wave solitons in Bose–Einstein condensates. In two recent experiments, solitons are formed from Bose–Einstein condensates of 7 Li by utilizing a Feshbach resonance to switch from repulsive to attractive interactions. The solitons are made to propagate in a one-dimensional potential formed by a focused laser beam. For repulsive interactions, the wavepacket undergoes dispersive wavepacket spreading, while for attractive interactions, localized solitons are formed. In our experiment, a multi-soliton train containing up to ten solitons is observed to propagate without spreading for a duration of 2 s. Adjacent solitons are found to interact repulsively, in agreement with a calculation based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation assuming that the soliton train is formed with an alternating phase structure. The origin of this phase structure is not entirely clear.

New Journal of Physics•Jun 16, 2003•213 citations

Simple and efficient generation of gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates

Michał Matuszewski, Wieslaw Z. Krolikowski, Marek Trippenbach +1 more

We suggest an efficient method for generating matter-wave gap solitons in a repulsive Bose-Einstein condensate, when the gap soliton is formed from a condensate cloud in a harmonic trap after turning on a one-dimensional optical lattice. We demonstrate numerically that this approach does not require preparing the initial atomic wave packet in a specific state corresponding to the edge of the Brillouin zone of the spectrum, and losses that occur during the soliton generation process can be suppressed by an appropriate adiabatic switching of the optical lattice.

arXiv:nlin/0609031•Physical Review A•Jun 27, 2006•24 citations

Magneto-optical control of bright atomic solitons

Sierk Pötting, O. Zobay, P. Meystre +1 more

In previous work we showed that bright atomic solitons can arise in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates in the form of gap solitons even for repulsive many-body interactions.Here we further explore the properties of atomic gap solitons and show that their internal structure can be used to both excite them and control their center-of-mass motion using applied laser and magnetic fields.As an illustration we demonstrate a nonlinear atom-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on gap solitons.

Journal of Modern Optics•Nov 20, 2000•2 citations

Magneto-optical control of bright atomic solitons

S. Pötting, O. Zobay, P. Meystre +1 more

In previous work we showed that bright atomic solitons can arise in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates in the form of gap solitons even for repulsive many-body interactions. Here we further explore the properties of atomic gap solitons and show that their internal structure can be used to both excite them and control their centre-of-mass motion using applied laser and magnetic fields. As an illustration we demonstrate a nonlinear atom-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on gap solitons.

arXiv:cond-mat/0004088•Journal of Modern Optics•Nov 1, 2000•12 citations

Vector Solitons and Soliton Collisions in Two-Component Bose–Einstein Condensates

Xunxu Liu, Zhang Xiao-Fei, Peng Zhang

With realistic parameters, both analytical and computational studies demonstrate the feasibility of forming bright-bright vector solitons in a self-repulsive two-component Bose-Einstein condensate with attractive inter-component interaction. Moreover, the stability of such solitons is confirmed by direct numerical simulations, by a Bogoliubov spectrum analysis, and by examining the collisions between two vector solitons. Our results are of considerable experimental interest.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2010•15 citations
We discuss a method to launch gap solitonlike structures in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates confined in optical traps. Bright vector solitons consisting of a superposition of two hyperfine Zeeman sublevels can be created for both attractive and repulsive interactions between the atoms. Their formation relies on the dynamics of the atomic internal ground states in two far-off-resonance counterpropagating (\ensuremathσ+\ensuremath−\ensuremathσ\ensuremath−)({\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}})(\ensuremathσ+\ensuremath−\ensuremathσ\ensuremath−)-polarized laser beams that form the optical trap. Numerical simulations show that these solitons can be prepared from a one-component state provided with an initial velocity.
We analyze numerically the process of dynamical generation of spatially localized vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC's) with repulsive atomic interactions confined by two-dimensional optical lattices. Akin to bright solitons in a repulsive condensate, these nonlinear localized states exist only within the gaps of the matter-wave band-gap spectrum imposed by the periodicity of the lattice potential. We discuss the complex structure of matter-wave phase singularities associated with different types of stationary gap vortices and suggest two different excitation methods. In one method, the condensate is adiabatically driven to the edge of the Brillouin zone where a vortex phase is subsequently imprinted onto the condensate wave packet. Alternatively, a vortex is created in a condensate confined in a harmonic trap and then is nonadiabatically released into the lattice potential. We find that only the latter method leads to robust and reliable generation of vortices within the gap of the matter-wave band-gap spectrum. Moreover, the nonadiabatic excitation can lead to the formation of broad gap vortices from the initial BEC wave packets with a large number of atoms. These broad vortices are intimately connected to self-trapped nonlinear states of the BEC recently demonstrated in experiments with a one-dimensional optical lattice. Our numerical simulations also confirm the feasibility of a homodyne interferometric detection of broad gap vortices.
We review recent experimental and theoretical work on the creation of bright matter wave solitons in Bose–Einstein condensates. In two recent experiments, solitons are formed from Bose–Einstein condensates of 7 Li by utilizing a Feshbach resonance to switch from repulsive to attractive interactions. The solitons are made to propagate in a one-dimensional potential formed by a focused laser beam. For repulsive interactions, the wavepacket undergoes dispersive wavepacket spreading, while for attractive interactions, localized solitons are formed. In our experiment, a multi-soliton train containing up to ten solitons is observed to propagate without spreading for a duration of 2 s. Adjacent solitons are found to interact repulsively, in agreement with a calculation based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation assuming that the soliton train is formed with an alternating phase structure. The origin of this phase structure is not entirely clear.
We suggest an efficient method for generating matter-wave gap solitons in a repulsive Bose-Einstein condensate, when the gap soliton is formed from a condensate cloud in a harmonic trap after turning on a one-dimensional optical lattice. We demonstrate numerically that this approach does not require preparing the initial atomic wave packet in a specific state corresponding to the edge of the Brillouin zone of the spectrum, and losses that occur during the soliton generation process can be suppressed by an appropriate adiabatic switching of the optical lattice.