arXiv · 1904.01635
Nematic-orbit coupling and nematic density waves in spin-1 condensates
Abstract
We propose the creation of artificial nematic-orbit coupling in spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates, in analogy to spin-orbit coupling. Using a suitably designed microwave chip, the quadratic Zeeman shift, normally uniform in space, can be made to be spatio-temporally varying, leading to a coupling between spatial and nematic degrees of freedom. A phase diagram is explored where three quantum phases with the nematic order emerge: easy-axis, easy-plane with single-well and easy-plane with double well structure in momentum space. By including spin-dependent and spin-independent interactions, we also obtain the low energy excitation spectra in these three phases. Lastly, we show that the nematic-orbit coupling leads to a periodic nematic density modulation in relation to the period $\lambda_T$ of the cosinusoidal quadratic Zeeman term. Our results point to the rich possibilities for manipulation of tensorial degrees of freedom in ultracold gases without requiring Raman lasers, and therefore, obviating light-scattering induced heating.
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Di Lao, Chandra Raman, C. A. R. Sá de Melo. 2019-04-02. Nematic-orbit coupling and nematic density waves in spin-1 condensates. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.173203
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