arXiv subjects

A. Parola

Publications and source records attributed to A. Parola.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2002

Periodic Quantum Tunneling and Parametric Resonance with Cigar-Shaped Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study the tunneling properties of a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate by using an effective 1D nonpolynomial nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NPSE). First we investigate a mechanism to generate periodic pulses of coherent matter by means of a Bose condensate confined in a potential well with an oscillating height of the energy barrier. We show that is possible to control the periodic emission of matter waves and the tunneling fraction of the Bose condensate. We find that the number of emitted particles strongly increases if the period of oscillation of the height of the energy barrier is in parametric resonance with the period of oscillation of the center of mass of the condensate inside the potential well. Then we use NPSE to analyze the periodic tunneling of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double-well potential which has an oscillating energy barrier. We show that the dynamics of the Bose condensate critically depends on the frequency of the oscillating energy barrier. The macroscopic quantum self-trapping (MQST) of the condensate can be suppressed under the condition of parametric resonance between the frequency of the energy barrier and the frequency of oscillation through the barrier of the very small fraction of particles which remain untrapped during MQST.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Effective wave-equations for the dynamics of cigar-shaped and disc-shaped Bose condensates

Starting from the 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equation and using a variational approach, we derive an effective 1D wave-equation that describes the axial dynamics of a Bose condensate confined in an external potential with cylindrical symmetry. The trapping potential is harmonic in the transverse direction and generic in the axial one. Our equation, that is a time-dependent non-polynomial nonlinear Schrödinger equation (1D NPSE), can be used to model cigar-shaped condensates, whose dynamics is essentially 1D. We show that 1D NPSE gives much more accurate results than all other effective equations recently proposed. By using 1D NPSE we find analytical solutions for bright and dark solitons, which generalize the ones known in the literature. We deduce also an effective 2D non-polynomial Schrödinger equation (2D NPSE) that models disc-shaped Bose condensates confined in an external trap that is harmonic along the axial direction and generic in the transverse direction. In the limiting cases of weak and strong interaction, our approach gives rise to Schrödinger-like equations with different polynomial nonlinearities.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

A simple approximation for fluids with narrow attractive potentials

We study a simple modification of the optimized random phase approximation (ORPA) aimed at improving the performance of the theory for interactions with a narrow attractive well by taking into account contributions to the direct correlation function non-linear in the interaction. The theory is applied to a hard-core Yukawa and a square-well potential. Results for the equation of state, the correlations, and the critical point have been obtained for attractions of several ranges, and compared with Monte Carlo simulations. When the attractive interaction is narrow, the modified ORPA significantly improves over the plain one, especially with regard to the consistency between different routes to the thermodynamics, the two-body correlation function, and the critical temperature. However, while the spinodal curve of the modified theory is accessible, the liquid-vapor coexistence curve is not. A possible strategy to overcome this drawback is suggested.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2001

Superconductivity in the two-dimensional t-J model

Using computational techniques, it is shown that pairing is a robust property of hole doped antiferromagnetic (AF) insulators. In one dimension (1D) and for two-leg ladder systems, a BCS-like variational wave function with long-bond spin-singlets and a Jastrow factor provides an accurate representation of the ground state of the t-J model, even though strong quantum fluctuations destroy the off-diagonal superconducting (SC) long-range order in this case. However, in two dimensions (2D) it is argued -- and numerically confirmed using several techniques, especially quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) -- that quantum fluctuations are not strong enough to suppress superconductivity.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2001

Non linear sigma models and quantum spin systems

Microscopic models of quantum antiferromagnets are investigated on the basis of a mapping onto effective low energy hamiltonians. Lattice effects are carefully taken into account and their role is discussed. We show that the presence of an external staggered magnetic field modifies in a non trivial way the usual mapping onto the non linear sigma model, leading to the appearance of new terms, neglected in previous works. Our analysis is compared with Lanczos diagonalizations of S=1 Heisenberg chains in a staggered field, confirming the validity of the single mode approximation for the evaluation of the dynamical structure factor. The results are relevant for the interpretation of experiments in quasi-one dimensional compounds. Microscopic realizations of SU(4) spin chains are also discussed in the framework of spin-orbital lattice systems. The low energy physics is shown to be described by sigma models with topological angle $θ$ in one dimension. This mapping strongly suggests that the one dimensional CP$^3$ model (with $θ=π$) undergoes a second order phase transition as a function of the coupling.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2001

Pulsed Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling of Falling Bose Condensates

We investigate macroscopic quantum tunneling of a Bose condensate and how it is affected by the interatomic interaction. We study the dynamics of a condensate falling under gravity and scattering on a Gaussian potential barrier that models a mirror formed by a far-detuned sheet of light. We observe bouncing, interference and quantum tunneling of the condensate. We find that the tunneling rate is very sensitive to the interatomic interaction and to the shape of the condensate. Under many conditions the tunneling rate is strongly enhanced by the interaction as achieved, for instance, by increasing the number of condensed particles. In a quasi 1D situation the tunneling pulse displays two peaks. The quantum tunneling can be quasi-periodic and in this way one could generate coherent Bose condensed atomic pulses.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Shell Effects and Phase Separation in a Trapped Multi-Component Fermi System

Shell effects in the coordinate space can be seen with degenerate Fermi vapors in non-uniform trapping potentials. In particular, below the Fermi temperature, the density profile of a Fermi gas in a confining harmonic potential is characterized by several local maxima. This effect is enhanced for "magic numbers" of particles and in quasi-1D (cigar-shaped) configurations. In the case of a multi-component Fermi vapor, the separation of Fermi components in different spatial shells (phase-separation) depends on temperature, number of particles and scattering length. We derive analytical formulas, based on bifurcation theory, for the critical density of Fermions and the critical chemical potential, which give rise to the phase-separation.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Thermodynamics of Multi-Component Fermi Vapors

We study the thermodynamical properties of Fermi vapors confined in a harmonic external potential. In the case of the ideal Fermi gas, we compare exact density profiles with their semiclassical approximation in the conditions of recent experiments. Then, we consider the phase-separation of a multi-component Fermi vapor. In particular, we analyze the phase-separation as a function of temperature, number of particles and scattering length. Finally, we discuss the effect of rotation on the stability and thermodynamics of the trapped vapors.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Thermodynamics of Bose-Condensed Atomic Hydrogen

We study the thermodynamics of the Bose-condensed atomic hydrogen confined in the Ioffe-Pritchard potential. Such a trapping potential, that models the magnetic trap used in recent experiments with hydrogen, is anharmonic and strongly anisotropic. We calculate the ground-state properties, the condensed and non-condensed fraction and the Bose-Einstein transition temperature. The thermodynamics of the system is strongly affected by the anharmonicity of this external trap. Finally, we consider the possibility to detect Josephson-like currents by creating a double-well barrier with a laser beam.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Thermodynamics of a trapped Bose condensate with negative scattering length

We study the Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) for a system of $^7Li$ atoms, which have negative scattering length (attractive interaction), confined in a harmonic potential. Within the Bogoliubov and Popov approximations, we numerically calculate the density profile for both condensate and non-condensate fractions and the spectrum of elementary excitations. In particular, we analyze the temperature and number-of-boson dependence of these quantities and evaluate the BEC transition temperature $T_{BEC}$. We calculate the loss rate for inelastic two- and three-body collisions. We find that the total loss rate is strongly dependent on the density profile of the condensate, but this density profile does not appreciably change by increasing the thermal fraction. Moreover, we study, using the quasi-classical Popov approximation, the temperature dependence of the critical number $N_c$ of condensed bosons, for which there is the collapse of the condensate. There are different regimes as a function of the total number $N$ of atoms. For $N N_c$ the condensate is metastable only for temperatures that exceed a critical value $T_c$.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1999

Unscreened Coulomb repulsion in the one dimensional electron gas

A tight binding model of electrons interacting via bare Coulomb repulsion is numerically investigated by use of the Density Matrix Renormalization Group method which we prove applicable also to very long range potentials. From the analysis of the elementary excitations, of the spin and charge correlation functions and of the momentum distribution, a picture consistent with the formation of a one dimensional "Wigner crystal" emerges, in quantitative agreement with a previous bosonization study. At finite doping, Umklapp scattering is shown to be ineffective in the presence of long range forces.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Bose Condensate in a Double-Well Trap: Ground State and Elementary Excitations

We study the Bose-Einstein condensate in the MIT double-well trap. We calculate the ground state density profile of $^{23}$Na atoms and the Bogoliubov spectrum of the elementary excitations as function of the strength of the double-well barrier. In particular, we analyze the behavior of quantum-mechanical collective excitations. Finally, we discuss the observability criteria for macroscopic quantum tunneling and macroscopic quantum self-trapping.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Spin liquid ground state in a two dimensional non-frustrated spin model

We consider an exchange model describing two isotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets coupled by a quartic term on the square lattice. The model is relevant for systems with orbital degeneracy and strong electron-vibron coupling in the large Hubbard repulsion limit, and is known to show a spin-Peierls-like dimerization in one dimension. In two dimensions we calculate energy gaps, susceptibilities, and correlation functions with a Green's Function Monte Carlo. We find a finite spin gap and no evidence of any kind of order. We conclude that the ground state is, most likely, a spin liquid of resonating valence bonds.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1999

Bosons in a Toroidal Trap: Ground State and Vortices

We study the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a 3-D toroidal Mexican hat trap. By changing the parameters of the potential, or the number of bosons, it is possible to modify strongly the density profile of the BEC. We consider the ground state properties for positive and negative scattering length and calculate the spectrum elementary excitations. We also discuss the macroscopic phase coherence and superfluidity of the BEC by analyzing vortex states and their stability.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1998

Spin gap in low-dimensional Mott insulators with orbital degeneracy

We consider the exchange Hamiltonian H_ST = -J Sum_{ } (2 S_r S_r' - 1/2) (2 T_r T_r' - 1/2) describing two isotropic spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets coupled by a quartic term on equivalent bonds. The model is relevant for systems with orbital degeneracy and strong electron-vibron coupling in the large Hubbard repulsion limit. To investigate the ground state properties we use a Green's Function Monte Carlo, calculating energy gaps and correlation functions, the latter through the forward walking technique. In one dimension we find that the ground state is a ``crystal'' of valence bond dimers. In two dimensions, the spin gap appears to remain finite in the thermodynamic limit, and, consistently, the staggered magnetization -- signal of Neel long range order -- seems to vanish. From the analysis of dimer-dimer correlation functions, however, we find no sign of a valence bond crystal. A spin liquid appears as a plausible scenario compatible with our findings.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1998

Bosonic clouds with attractive interaction beyond the local interaction approximation

We study the properties of a Bose-Einstein condensed cloud of atoms with negative scattering length confined in a harmonic trap. When a realistic non local (finite range) effective interaction is taken into account, we find that, besides the known low density metastable solution, a new branch of Bose condensate appears at higher density. This state is self-bound but its density can be quite low if the number $N$ of atoms is not too big. The transition between the two classes of solutions as a function of $N$ can be either sharp or smooth according to the ratio between the range of the attractive interaction and the length of the trap. A tight trap leads to a smooth transition. In addition to the energy and the shape of the cloud we study also the dynamics of the system. In particular, we study the frequencies of collective oscillation of the Bose condensate as a function of the number of atoms both in the local and in the non local case. Moreover, we consider the dynamics of the cloud when the external trap is switched off.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1997

Anomalous finite size spectrum in the S=1/2 two dimensional Heisenberg model

We study the low energy spectrum of the nearest neighbor Heisenberg model on a square lattice as a function of the total spin S. By quantum Monte Carlo simulation we compute this spectrum for the s=1/2, s=1 and s=3/2 Heisenberg models. We conclude that the nonlinear sigma model prediction for the low energy spectrum is always verified for large enough system size. However the crossover to the correct scaling regime is particularly slow just for the s=1/2 Heisenberg model. The possibility to detect this unexpected anomaly with finite temperature experiments on s=1/2 isotropic quantum antiferromagnets is also discussed.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1997

Theory of hole propagation in one dimensional insulators and superconductors

The dynamical properties of hole motion in an antiferromagnetic background are determined in one dimensional models in zero magnetic field, where spin isotropy holds, as well as in an external magnetic field. The latter case is also relevant, via particle-hole transformation, to the problem of hole propagation in one dimensional "superconductors". The singularities in the spectral function are investigated by means of bosonization techniques and perturbation theories. Results are then compared with Bethe ansatz solutions and Lanczos diagonalizations. The formalism also leads to interesting connections to the single impurity problem in Luttinger liquids. A rich structure is found in the spectral function whenever spin isotropy is broken, suggesting the presence of exotic momentum dependence in photoemission spectra of (quasi) one dimensional materials.

cond-mat↗