arXiv subjects

B. P. Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to B. P. Anderson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

The vortex comb: eliminating vortices from Bose-Einstein condensates using optical lattices

In the present work we introduce and explore a technique for the efficient removal of vortices from an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, through the application and subsequent removal of a one-dimensional optical lattice. We showcase a prototypical experimental realization of the technique that motivates a detailed theoretical study of vortex removal mechanisms. Through simulations of the condensate dynamics during application of the optical lattice, we also discover a vortex removal mechanism that arises in narrow, optical-lattice-induced atomic density channels for which the channel width is on the order of the nominal vortex core size and healing length. This mechanism involves the density profile typically associated with a vortex core spatially separating from the phase singularity associated with the vortex. By analyzing numerical experiments covering a wide range of variations of the optical lattice amplitude and fringe periodicity, we identify the existence of an optimal set of parameters that enables the efficient removal of all vortices from the condensate. This analysis paves the way for further studies aimed at understanding vortex dynamics in narrow channels, and adds to an experimental toolkit for working with vortices and controlling the dynamical states of condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2019

Dynamics of interacting dark soliton stripes

In the present work we examine the statics and dynamics of multiple parallel dark soliton stripes in a two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate. Our principal goal is to study the effect of the interaction between the stripes on the transverse instability of the individual stripes. We use a recently developed adiabatic invariant formulation to derive a quasi-analytical prediction for the stripe equilibrium position and for the Bogoliubov-de Gennes spectrum of excitations of stationary stripes. The cases of two-, three- and four-stripe states are studied in detail. We subsequently test our predictions against numerical simulations of the full two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We find that the number of unstable eigenmodes increases as the number of stripes increases due to (unstable) relative motions between the stripes. Their corresponding growth rates do not significantly change, although for large chemical potentials, the larger the stripe number, the larger the maximal instability growth rate. The instability induced dynamics of multiple stripe states and their decay into vortices are also investigated.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Deterministic creation, pinning, and manipulation of quantized vortices in a Bose-Einstein condensate

We experimentally and numerically demonstrate deterministic creation and manipulation of a pair of oppositely charged singly quantized vortices in a highly oblate Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Two identical blue-detuned, focused Gaussian laser beams that pierce the BEC serve as repulsive obstacles for the superfluid atomic gas; by controlling the positions of the beams within the plane of the BEC, superfluid flow is deterministically established around each beam such that two vortices of opposite circulation are generated by the motion of the beams, with each vortex pinned to the \emph{in situ} position of a laser beam. We study the vortex creation process, and show that the vortices can be moved about within the BEC by translating the positions of the laser beams. This technique can serve as a building block in future experimental techniques to create, on-demand, deterministic arrangements of few or many vortices within a BEC for precise studies of vortex dynamics and vortex interactions.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Generating and Manipulating Quantized Vortices On-Demand in a Bose-Einstein Condensate: a Numerical Study

We numerically investigate an experimentally viable method, that we will refer to as the "chopsticks method", for generating and manipulating on-demand several vortices in a highly oblate atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in order to initialize complex vortex distributions for studies of vortex dynamics. The method utilizes moving laser beams (the "chopsticks") to generate, capture and transport vortices inside and outside the BEC. We examine in detail this methodology and show a wide parameter range of applicability for the prototypical two-vortex case, and show case examples of producing and manipulating several vortices for which there is no net circulation, equal numbers of positive and negative circulation vortices, and for which there is one net quantum of circulation. We find that the presence of dissipation can help stabilize the pinning of the vortices on their respective laser beam pinning sites. Finally, we illustrate how to utilize laser beams as repositories that hold large numbers of vortices and how to deposit individual vortices in a sequential fashion in the repositories in order to construct superfluid flows about the repository beams with several quanta of circulation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Identifying a superfluid Reynolds number via dynamical similarity

The Reynolds number provides a characterization of the transition to turbulent flow, with wide application in classical fluid dynamics. Identifying such a parameter in superfluid systems is challenging due to their fundamentally inviscid nature. Performing a systematic study of superfluid cylinder wakes in two dimensions, we observe dynamical similarity of the frequency of vortex shedding by a cylindrical obstacle. The universality of the turbulent wake dynamics is revealed by expressing shedding frequencies in terms of an appropriately defined superfluid Reynolds number, ${\rm Re}_s$, that accounts for the breakdown of superfluid flow through quantum vortex shedding. For large obstacles, the dimensionless shedding frequency exhibits a universal form that is well-fitted by a classical empirical relation. In this regime the transition to turbulence occurs at ${\rm Re}_s\approx 0.7$, irrespective of obstacle width.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2014

Dynamic and Energetic Stabilization of Persistent Currents in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study conditions under which vortices in a highly oblate harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) can be stabilized due to pinning by a blue-detuned Gaussian laser beam, with particular emphasis on the potentially destabilizing effects of laser beam positioning within the BEC. Our approach involves theoretical and numerical exploration of dynamically and energetically stable pinning of vortices with winding number up to $S=6$, in correspondence with experimental observations. Stable pinning is quantified theoretically via Bogoliubov-de Gennes excitation spectrum computations and confirmed via direct numerical simulations for a range of conditions similar to those of experimental observations. The theoretical and numerical results indicate that the pinned winding number, or equivalently the winding number of the superfluid current about the laser beam, decays as a laser beam of fixed intensity moves away from the BEC center. Our theoretical analysis helps explain previous experimental observations, and helps define limits of stable vortex pinning for future experiments involving vortex manipulation by laser beams.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Persistent current formation in a high-temperature Bose-Einstein condensate: an experimental test for c-field theory

Experimental stirring of a toroidally trapped Bose-Einstein condensate at high temperature generates a disordered array of quantum vortices that decays via thermal dissipation to form a macroscopic persistent current [T. W. Neely em et al. arXiv:1204.1102 (2012)]. We perform 3D numerical simulations of the experimental sequence within the Stochastic Projected Gross-Pitaevskii equation using ab initio determined reservoir parameters. We find that both damping and noise are essential for describing the dynamics of the high-temperature Bose field. The theory gives a quantitative account of the formation of a persistent current, with no fitted parameters.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2013

Experimental Methods for Generating Two-Dimensional Quantum Turbulence in Bose-Einstein Condensates

Bose-Einstein condensates of dilute gases are well-suited for investigations of vortex dynamics and turbulence in quantum fluids, yet there has been little experimental research into the approaches that may be most promising for generating states of two-dimensional turbulence in these systems. Here we give an overview of techniques for generating the large and disordered vortex distributions associated with two-dimensional quantum turbulence. We focus on describing methods explored in our Bose-Einstein condensation laboratory, and discuss the suitability of these methods for studying various aspects of two-dimensional quantum turbulence. We also summarize some of the open questions regarding our own understanding of these mechanisms of two-dimensional quantum turbulence generation in condensates. We find that while these disordered distributions of vortices can be generated by a variety of techniques, further investigation is needed to identify methods for obtaining quasi-steady-state quantum turbulence in condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2012

Classical and quantum regimes of two-dimensional turbulence in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate two-dimensional turbulence in finite-temperature trapped Bose-Einstein condensates within damped Gross-Pitaevskii theory. Turbulence is produced via circular motion of a Gaussian potential barrier stirring the condensate. We systematically explore a range of stirring parameters and identify three regimes, characterized by the injection of distinct quantum vortex structures into the condensate: (A) periodic vortex dipole injection, (B) irregular injection of a mixture of vortex dipoles and co-rotating vortex clusters, and (C) continuous injection of oblique solitons that decay into vortex dipoles. Spectral analysis of the kinetic energy associated with vortices reveals that regime (B) can intermittently exhibit a Kolmogorov $k^{-5/3}$ power law over almost a decade of length or wavenumber ($k$) scales. The kinetic energy spectrum of regime (C) exhibits a clear $k^{-3/2}$ power law associated with an inertial range for weak-wave turbulence, and a $k^{-7/2}$ power law for high wavenumbers. We thus identify distinct regimes of forcing for generating either two-dimensional quantum turbulence or classical weak-wave turbulence that may be realizable experimentally.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2012

Characteristics of Two-Dimensional Quantum Turbulence in a Compressible Superfluid

Under suitable forcing a fluid exhibits turbulence, with characteristics strongly affected by the fluid's confining geometry. Here we study two-dimensional quantum turbulence in a highly oblate Bose-Einstein condensate in an annular trap. As a compressible quantum fluid, this system affords a rich phenomenology, allowing coupling between vortex and acoustic energy. Small-scale stirring generates an experimentally observed disordered vortex distribution that evolves into large-scale flow in the form of a persistent current. Numerical simulation of the experiment reveals additional characteristics of two-dimensional quantum turbulence: spontaneous clustering of same-circulation vortices, and an incompressible energy spectrum with $k^{-5/3}$ dependence for low wavenumbers $k$ and $k^{-3}$ dependence for high $k$.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2011

Suppression of Kelvon-induced decay of quantized vortices in oblate Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study the Kelvin mode excitations on a vortex line in a three-dimensional trapped Bose-Einstein condensate at finite temperature. Our stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii simulations show that the activation of these modes can be suppressed by tightening the confinement along the direction of the vortex line, leading to a strong suppression in the vortex decay rate as the system enters a regime of two-dimensional vortex dynamics. As the system approaches the condensation transition temperature we find that the vortex decay rate is strongly sensitive to dimensionality and temperature, observing a large enhancement for quasi-two-dimensional traps. Three-dimensional simulations of the recent vortex dipole decay experiment of Neely et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 160401 (2010)] confirm two-dimensional vortex dynamics, and predict a dipole lifetime consistent with experimental observations and suppression of Kelvon-induced vortex decay in highly oblate condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2009

Observation of vortex dipoles in an oblate Bose-Einstein condensate

We report experimental observations and numerical simulations of the formation, dynamics, and lifetimes of single and multiply charged quantized vortex dipoles in highly oblate dilute-gas Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). We nucleate pairs of vortices of opposite charge (vortex dipoles) by forcing superfluid flow around a repulsive gaussian obstacle within the BEC. By controlling the flow velocity we determine the critical velocity for the nucleation of a single vortex dipole, with excellent agreement between experimental and numerical results. We present measurements of vortex dipole dynamics, finding that the vortex cores of opposite charge can exist for many seconds and that annihilation is inhibited in our highly oblate trap geometry. For sufficiently rapid flow velocities we find that clusters of like-charge vortices aggregate into long-lived dipolar flow structures.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2009

Manipulation of Vortices by Localized Impurities in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We consider the manipulation of Bose-Einstein condensate vortices by optical potentials generated by focused laser beams. It is shown that for appropriate choices of the laser strength and width it is possible to successfully transport vortices to various positions inside the trap confining the condensate atoms. Furthermore, the full bifurcation structure of possible stationary single-charge vortex solutions in a harmonic potential with this type of impurity is elucidated. The case when a moving vortex is captured by a stationary laser beam is also studied, as well as the possibility of dragging the vortex by means of periodic optical lattices.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Spontaneous vortices in the formation of Bose-Einstein condensates

Phase transitions are ubiquitous in nature, ranging from protein folding and denaturisation, to the superconductor-insulator quantum phase transition, to the decoupling of forces in the early universe. Remarkably, phase transitions can be arranged into universality classes, where systems having unrelated microscopic physics exhibit identical scaling behaviour near the critical point. Here we present an experimental and theoretical study of the Bose-Einstein condensation phase transition of an atomic gas, focusing on one prominent universal element of phase transition dynamics: the spontaneous formation of topological defects during a quench through the transition. While the microscopic dynamics of defect formation in phase transitions are generally difficult to investigate, particularly for superfluid phase transitions, Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) offer unique experimental and theoretical opportunities for probing such details. Although spontaneously formed vortices in the condensation transition have been previously predicted to occur, our results encompass the first experimental observations and statistical characterisation of spontaneous vortex formation in the condensation transition. Using microscopic theories that incorporate atomic interactions and quantum and thermal fluctuations of a finite-temperature Bose gas, we simulate condensation and observe vortex formation in close quantitative agreement with our experimental results. Our studies provide further understanding of the development of coherence in superfluids, and may allow for direct investigation of universal phase-transition dynamics.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Structure and stability of two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates under both harmonic and lattice confinement

In this work, we study pancake-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates confined by both a cylindrically symmetric harmonic potential and an optical lattice with equal periodicity in two orthogonal directions. We first identify the spectrum of the underlying two-dimensional linear problem through multiple-scale techniques. Then, we use the results obtained in the linear limit as a starting point for a nonlinear existence and stability analysis of the lowest energy states, emanating from the linear ones, in the nonlinear problem. Two-parameter continuations of these states are performed for increasing nonlinearity and optical lattice strengths, and their instabilities and temporal evolution are investigated. It is found that the ground state as well as one of the excited states are either stable or weakly unstable for both attractive and repulsive interatomic interactions.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Dynamics of Vortex Formation in Merging Bose-Einstein Condensate Fragments

We study the formation of vortices in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) that has been prepared by allowing isolated and independent condensed fragments to merge together. We focus on the experimental setup of Scherer {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 98}, 110402 (2007)], where three BECs are created in a magnetic trap that is segmented into three regions by a repulsive optical potential; the BECs merge together as the optical potential is removed. First, we study the two-dimensional case, in particular we examine the effects of the relative phases of the different fragments and the removal rate of the optical potential on the vortex formation. We find that many vortices are created by instant removal of the optical potential regardless of relative phases, and that fewer vortices are created if the intensity of the optical potential is gradually ramped down and the condensed fragments gradually merge. In all cases, self-annihilation of vortices of opposite charge is observed. We also find that for sufficiently long barrier ramp times, the initial relative phases between the fragments leave a clear imprint on the resulting topological configuration. Finally, we study the three-dimensional system and the formation of vortex lines and vortex rings due to the merger of the BEC fragments; our results illustrate how the relevant vorticity is manifested for appropriate phase differences, as well as how it may be masked by the planar projections observed experimentally.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Experiments on Multidimensional Solitons

This article presents an overview of experimental efforts in recent years related to multidimensional solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates. We discuss the techniques used to generate and observe multidimensional nonlinear waves in Bose-Einstein condensates with repulsive interactions. We further summarize observations of planar soliton fronts undergoing the snake instability, the formation of vortex rings, and the emergence of hybrid structures.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2002

Atomic-phase interference devices based on ring-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates: Two ring case

We theoretically investigate the ground-state properties and quantum dynamics of a pair of adjacent ring-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates that are coupled via tunneling. This device, which is the analogue of a symmetric superconducting quantum interference device, is the simplest version of what we term an Atomic-Phase Interference Device (APHID). The two-ring APHID is shown to be sensitive to rotation.

cond-mat.soft↗