arXiv · 1107.2672
Long timescale dynamics of spin textures in a degenerate F=1 $^{87}$ Rb spinor Bose gas
Abstract
We investigate the long-term dynamics of spin textures prepared by cooling unmagnetized spinor gases of F=1 $^{87}$Rb to quantum degeneracy, observing domain coarsening and a strong dependence of the equilibration dynamics on the quadratic Zeeman shift $q$. For small values of $|q|$, the textures arrive at a configuration independent of the initial spin-state composition, characterized by large length-scale spin domains, and the establishment of easy-axis (negative $q$) or easy-plane (positive $q$) magnetic anisotropy. For larger $|q|$, equilibration is delayed as the spin-state composition of the degenerate spinor gas remains close to its initial value. These observations support the mean-field equilibrium phase diagram predicted for a ferromagnetic spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, but also illustrate that equilibration is achieved under a narrow range of experimental settings, making the F=1 $^{87}$Rb gas more suitable for studies of nonequilibrium quantum dynamics.
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J. Guzman, G. -B. Jo, A. N. Wenz, K. W. Murch, C. K. Thomas, D. M. Stamper-Kurn. 2011-07-13. Long timescale dynamics of spin textures in a degenerate F=1 $^{87}$ Rb spinor Bose gas. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.84.063625
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