arXiv · 1405.7745
In situ imaging of vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates
Abstract
Laboratory observations of vortex dynamics in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are essential for determination of many aspects of superfluid dynamics in these systems. We present a novel application of dark-field imaging that enables \texttt{\it in situ} detection of two-dimensional vortex distributions in single-component BECs, a step towards real-time measurements of complex two-dimensional vortex dynamics within a single BEC. By rotating a $^{87}$Rb BEC in a magnetic trap, we generate a triangular lattice of vortex cores in the BEC, with core diameters on the order of 400 nm and cores separated by approximately 9 $μ$m. We have experimentally confirmed that the positions of the vortex cores can be determined without the need for ballistic expansion of the BEC.
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Kali E. Wilson, Zachary L. Newman, Joseph D. Lowney, Brian P. Anderson. 2014-05-29. In situ imaging of vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.91.023621
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