arXiv subjects

D. J. Frantzeskakis

Publications and source records attributed to D. J. Frantzeskakis.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Experimental observation of oscillating and interacting matter wave dark solitons

We report on the generation, subsequent oscillation and interaction of a pair of matter wave dark solitons. These are created by releasing a Bose-Einstein condensate from a double well potential into a harmonic trap in the crossover regime between one dimension (1D) and three dimensions (3D). The oscillation of the solitons is observed and the frequency is in quantitative agreement with simulations using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. An effective particle picture is developed and reveals that the deviation of the observed frequencies from the asymptotic prediction $ν_{z}/\sqrt{2}$, where $ν_{z}$ is the longitudinal trapping frequency, results from the dimensionality of the system and the interaction between the solitons.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Matter-wave solitons with a periodic, piecewise-constant nonlinearity

Motivated by recent proposals of ``collisionally inhomogeneous'' Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), which have a spatially modulated scattering length, we study the existence and stability properties of bright and dark matter-wave solitons of a BEC characterized by a periodic, piecewise-constant scattering length. We use a ``stitching'' approach to analytically approximate the pertinent solutions of the underlying nonlinear Schrödinger equation by matching the wavefunction and its derivatives at the interfaces of the nonlinearity coefficient. To accurately quantify the stability of bright and dark solitons, we adapt general tools from the theory of perturbed Hamiltonian systems. We show that solitons can only exist at the centers of the constant regions of the piecewise-constant nonlinearity. We find both stable and unstable configurations for bright solitons and show that all dark solitons are unstable, with different instability mechanisms that depend on the soliton location. We corroborate our analytical results with numerical computations.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2008

Nonlinear Waves in Bose-Einstein Condensates: Physical Relevance and Mathematical Techniques

The aim of the present review is to introduce the reader to some of the physical notions and of the mathematical methods that are relevant to the study of nonlinear waves in Bose-Einstein Condensates (BECs). Upon introducing the general framework, we discuss the prototypical models that are relevant to this setting for different dimensions and different potentials confining the atoms. We analyze some of the model properties and explore their typical wave solutions (plane wave solutions, bright, dark, gap solitons, as well as vortices). We then offer a collection of mathematical methods that can be used to understand the existence, stability and dynamics of nonlinear waves in such BECs, either directly or starting from different types of limits (e.g., the linear or the nonlinear limit, or the discrete limit of the corresponding equation). Finally, we consider some special topics involving more recent developments, and experimental setups in which there is still considerable need for developing mathematical as well as computational tools.

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↗

arXiv2008

Rabi switch of condensate wavefunctions in a multicomponent Bose gas

Using a time-dependent linear (Rabi) coupling between the components of a weakly interacting multicomponent Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), we propose a protocol for transferring the wavefunction of one component to the other. This "Rabi switch" can be generated in a binary BEC mixture by an electromagnetic field between the two components, typically two hyperfine states. When the wavefunction to be transfered is - at a given time - a stationary state of the multicomponent Hamiltonian, then, after a time delay (depending on the Rabi frequency), it is possible to have the same wavefunction on the other condensate. The Rabi switch can be used to transfer also moving bright matter-wave solitons, as well as vortices and vortex lattices in two-dimensional condensates. The efficiency of the proposed switch is shown to be 100% when inter-species and intra-species interaction strengths are equal. The deviations from equal interaction strengths are analyzed within a two-mode model and the dependence of the efficiency on the interaction strengths and on the presence of external potentials is examined in both 1D and 2D settings.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

On the Emergence of Unstable Modes in an Expanding Domain for Energy-Conserving Wave Equations

Motivated by recent work on instabilities in expanding domains in reaction-diffusion settings, we propose an analog of such mechanisms in energy-conserving wave equations. In particular, we consider a nonlinear Schr{ö}dinger equation in a finite domain and show how the expansion or contraction of the domain, under appropriate conditions, can destabilize its originally stable solutions through the modulational instability mechanism. Using both real and Fourier spacediagnostics, we monitor and control the crossing of the instability threshold and, hence, the activation of the instability. We also consider how the manifestation of this mechanism is modified in a spatially inhomogeneous setting, namely in the presence of an external parabolic potential, which is relevant to trapped Bose-Einstein condensates.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Vortex Structures Formed by the Interference of Sliced Condensates

We study the formation of vortices, vortex necklaces and vortex ring structures as a result of the interference of higher-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). This study is motivated by earlier theoretical results pertaining to the formation of dark solitons by interfering quasi one-dimensional BECs, as well as recent experiments demonstrating the formation of vortices by interfering higher-dimensional BECs. Here, we demonstrate the genericity of the relevant scenario, but also highlight a number of additional possibilities emerging in higher-dimensional settings. A relevant example is, e.g., the formation of a "cage" of vortex rings surrounding the three-dimensional bulk of the condensed atoms. The effects of the relative phases of the different BEC fragments and the role of damping due to coupling with the thermal cloud are also discussed. Our predictions should be immediately tractable in currently existing experimental BEC setups.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Radially Symmetric Nonlinear States of Harmonically Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensates

Starting from the spectrum of the radially symmetric quantum harmonic oscillator in two dimensions, we create a large set of nonlinear solutions. The relevant three principal branches, with $n_r=0,1$ and 2 radial nodes respectively, are systematically continued as a function of the chemical potential and their linear stability is analyzed in detail, in the absence as well as in the presence of topological charge $m$, i.e., vorticity. It is found that for repulsive interatomic interactions {\it only} the ground state is {\it linearly stable} throughout the parameter range examined. Furthermore, this is true for topological charges $m=0$ or $m=1$; solutions with higher topological charge can be unstable even in that case. All higher excited states are found to be unstable in a wide parametric regime. However, for the focusing/attractive case the ground state with $n_r=0$ and $m=0$ can only be stable for a sufficiently low number of atoms. Once again, excited states are found to be generically unstable. For unstable profiles, the dynamical evolution of the corresponding branches is also followed to monitor the temporal development of the instability.

cond-mat.other↗

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

Dark matter-wave solitons in the dimensionality crossover

We consider the statics and dynamics of dark matter-wave solitons in the dimensionality crossover regime from 3D to 1D. There, using the nonpolynomial Schrödinger mean-field model, we find that the anomalous mode of the Bogoliubov spectrum has an eigenfrequency which coincides with the soliton oscillation frequency obtained by the 3D Gross-Pitaevskii model. We show that substantial deviations (of order of 10% or more) from the characteristic frequency $ω_{z}/\sqrt{2}$ ($ω_{z}$ being the longitudinal trap frequency) are possible even in the purely 1D regime.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Bright-Dark Soliton Complexes in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

We present bright-dark vector solitons in quasi-one-dimensional spinor (F=1) Bose-Einstein condensates. Using a multiscale expansion technique, we reduce the corresponding nonintegrable system of three coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations (GPEs) to a completely integrable Yajima-Oikawa system. In this way, we obtain approximate solutions for small-amplitude vector solitons of dark-dark-bright and bright-bright-dark types, in terms of the $m_{F}=+1,-1,0$ spinor components, respectively. By means of numerical simulations of the full GPE system, we demonstrate that these states indeed feature soliton properties, i.e., they propagate undistorted and undergo quasi-elastic collisions. It is also shown that, in the presence of a parabolic trap of strength $ω$, the bright component(s) is (are) guided by the dark one(s), and, as a result, the small-amplitude vector soliton as a whole performs harmonic oscillations of frequency $ω/ \sqrt{2}$ in the shallow soliton limit. We investigate numerically deviations from this prediction, as the depth of the solitons is increased, as well as when the strength of the spin-dependent interaction is modified.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Non-Equilibrium Dynamics and Superfluid Ring Excitations in Binary Bose-Einstein Condensates

We revisit a classic study [D. S. Hall {\it et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 81}, 1539 (1998)] of interpenetrating Bose-Einstein condensates in the hyperfine states $\ket{F = 1, m_f = -1}\equiv\ket{1}$ and $\ket{F = 2, m_f = +1}\equiv\ket{2}$ of ${}^{87}$Rb and observe striking new non-equilibrium component separation dynamics in the form of oscillating ring-like structures. The process of component separation is not significantly damped, a finding that also contrasts sharply with earlier experimental work, allowing a clean first look at a collective excitation of a binary superfluid. We further demonstrate extraordinary quantitative agreement between theoretical and experimental results using a multi-component mean-field model with key additional features: the inclusion of atomic losses and the careful characterization of trap potentials (at the level of a fraction of a percent).

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Soliton oscillations in collisionally inhomogeneous attractive Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigate bright matter-wave solitons in the presence of a spatially varying nonlinearity. It is demonstrated that a translation mode is excited due to the spatial inhomogeneity and its frequency is derived analytically and also studied numerically. Both cases of purely one-dimensional and ``cigar-shaped'' condensates are studied by means of different mean-field models, and the oscillation frequencies of the pertinent solitons are found and compared with the results obtained by the linear stability analysis.Numerical results are shown to be in very good agreement with the corresponding analytical predictions.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Polarized States and Domain Walls in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study spin-polarized states and their stability in anti-ferromagnetic states of spinor (F=1) quasi-one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates. Using analytical approximations and numerical methods, we find various types of polarized states, including: patterns of the Thomas-Fermi type; structures with a pulse-shape in one component inducing a hole in the other components; states with holes in all three components; and domain walls. A Bogoliubov-de Gennes analysis reveals that families of these states contain intervals of a weak oscillatory instability, except for the domain walls, which are always stable. The development of the instabilities is examined by means of direct numerical simulations.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Modulational Instability in Nonlinearity-Managed Optical Media

We investigate analytically, numerically, and experimentally the modulational instability in a layered, cubically-nonlinear (Kerr) optical medium that consists of alternating layers of glass and air. We model this setting using a nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with a piecewise constant nonlinearity coefficient and conduct a theoretical analysis of its linear stability, obtaining a Kronig-Penney equation whose forbidden bands correspond to the modulationally unstable regimes. We find very good {\it quantitative} agreement between the theoretical analysis of the Kronig-Penney equation, numerical simulations of the NLS equation, and the experimental results for the modulational instability. Because of the periodicity in the evolution variable arising from the layered medium, we find multiple instability regions rather than just the one that would occur in uniform media.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Symmetry Breaking in Linearly Coupled Dynamical Lattices

We examine one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) models of linearly coupled lattices of the discrete-nonlinear-Schr{ö}dinger type. Analyzing ground states of the systems with equal powers in the two components, we find a symmetry-breaking phenomenon beyond a critical value of the squared $l^2$-norm. Asymmetric states, with unequal powers in their components, emerge through a subcritical pitchfork bifurcation, which, for very weakly coupled lattices, changes into a supercritical one. We identify the stability of various solution branches. Dynamical manifestations of the symmetry breaking are studied by simulating the evolution of the unstable branches. The results present the first example of spontaneous symmetry breaking in 2D lattice solitons. This feature has no counterpart in the continuum limit, because of the collapse instability in the latter case.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

Modulated Amplitude Waves in Collisionally Inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein Condensates

We investigate the dynamics of an effectively one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with scattering length $a$ subjected to a spatially periodic modulation, $a=a(x)=a(x+L)$. This "collisionally inhomogeneous" BEC is described by a Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation whose nonlinearity coefficient is a periodic function of $x$. We transform this equation into a GP equation with constant coefficient $a$ and an additional effective potential and study a class of extended wave solutions of the transformed equation. For weak underlying inhomogeneity, the effective potential takes a form resembling a superlattice, and the amplitude dynamics of the solutions of the constant-coefficient GP equation obey a nonlinear generalization of the Ince equation. In the small-amplitude limit, we use averaging to construct analytical solutions for modulated amplitude waves (MAWs), whose stability we subsequently examine using both numerical simulations of the original GP equation and fixed-point computations with the MAWs as numerically exact solutions. We show that "on-site" solutions, whose maxima correspond to maxima of $a(x)$, are significantly more stable than their "off-site" counterparts.

nlin.PS↗

arXiv2007

From Feshbach-Resonance Managed Bose-Einstein Condensates to Anisotropic Universes: Some Applications of the Ermakov-Pinney equation with Time-Dependent Nonlinearity

In this work we revisit the topic of two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates under the influence of time-dependent magnetic confinement and time-dependent scattering length. A moment approach reduces the examination of moments of the wavefunction (in particular, of its width) to an Ermakov-Pinney (EP) ordinary differential equation (ODE). We use the well-known structure of the solutions of this nonlinear ODE to ``engineer'' trapping and interatomic interaction conditions that lead to condensates dispersing, breathing or even collapsing. The advantage of the approach is that it is fully tractable analytically, in excellent agreement with our numerical observations. As an aside, we also discuss how similar time-dependent EP equations may arise in the description of anisotropic scalar field cosmologies.

cond-mat.other↗