arXiv · 1208.3608
Driving phase slips in a superfluid atom circuit with a rotating weak link
Abstract
We have observed well-defined phase slips between quantized persistent current states around a toroidal atomic (23Na) Bose-Einstein condensate. These phase slips are induced by a weak link (a localized region of reduced superfluid density) rotated slowly around the ring. This is analogous to the behavior of a superconducting loop with a weak link in the presence of an external magnetic field. When the weak link is rotated more rapidly, well-defined phase slips no longer occur, and vortices enter into the bulk of the condensate. A noteworthy feature of this system is the ability to dynamically vary the weak link and hence the critical current, a feature which is difficult to implement in superconducting or superfluid helium circuits.
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K. C. Wright, R. B. Blakestad, C. J. Lobb, W. D. Phillips, G. K. Campbell. 2012-08-17. Driving phase slips in a superfluid atom circuit with a rotating weak link. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.110.025302
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