arXiv subjects

Ian Spielman

Publications and source records attributed to Ian Spielman.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Imaginary gauge potentials in a non-Hermitian spin-orbit coupled quantum gas

In 1996, Hatano and Nelson proposed a non-Hermitian lattice model containing an imaginary Peierls phase [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77 570-573 (1996)], which subsequent analyses revealed to be an instance of a new class of topological systems. Here, we experimentally realize a continuum analog to this model containing an imaginary gauge potential using a homogeneous spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). Non-Hermiticity is introduced by adding tunable spin-dependent loss via microwave coupling to a subspace with spontaneous emission. We demonstrate that the resulting Heisenberg equations of motion for position and momentum depend explicitly on the system's phase-space distribution. First, we observe collective nonreciprocal transport in real space, with a "self-acceleration" that decreases with the BEC's spatial extent, consistent with non-Hermitian Gross-Pitaevskii simulations. We then examine localized edge states: the relatively strong interactions in our BEC suppress the formation of topological edge states, yielding instead highly excited states localized by an interplay between self-acceleration and wavefunction spreading. Finally, we confirm that our non-Hermitian description remains valid at all times by comparing to a multi-level master-equation treatment.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2024

Kolmogorov turbulence in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

We investigated turbulence in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) using a minimally destructive, impurity injection technique analogous to particle image velocimetry in conventional fluids. Our approach transfers small regions of the BEC into a different hyperfine state, and tracks their displacement ultimately yielding the velocity field. This allows us to quantify turbulence in the same way as conventional in fluid dynamics in terms of velocity-velocity correlation functions called velocity structure functions that obey a Kolmogorov scaling law. Furthermore the velocity increments show a clear fat-tail non-Gaussian distribution that results from intermittency corrections to the initial "K41" Kolmogorov theory. Our observations are fully consistent with the later "KO62" description. These results are validated by a 2D dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii simulation.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2023

Observation of anisotropic superfluid density in an artificial crystal

We experimentally and theoretically investigate the anisotropic speed of sound of an atomic superfluid (SF) Bose-Einstein condensate in a 1D optical lattice. Because the speed of sound derives from the SF density, this implies that the SF density is itself anisotropic. We find that the speed of sound is decreased by the optical lattice, and the SF density is concomitantly reduced. This reduction is accompanied by the appearance of a normal fluid in the purely Bose condensed phase. The reduction in SF density -- first predicted [A. J. Leggett, Phys. Rev. Lett. 1543--1546 (1970)] in the context of supersolidity -- results from the coexistence of superfluidity and density modulations, but is agnostic about the origin of the modulations. We additionally measure the moment of inertia of the system in a scissors mode experiment, demonstrating the existence of rotational flow. As such we shed light on some supersolid properties using imposed, rather than spontaneously formed, density-order.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Vortices in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates

Realistic methods to create vortices in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensates are discussed. It is shown that, contrary to common intuition, rotation of the trap containing a spin-orbit condensate does not lead to an equilibrium state with static vortex structures, but gives rise instead to non-equilibrium behavior described by an intrinsically time-dependent Hamiltonian. We propose here the following alternative methods to induce thermodynamically stable static vortex configurations: (1) to rotate both the lasers and the anisotropic trap; and (2) to impose a synthetic Abelian field on top of synthetic spin-orbit interactions. Effective Hamiltonians for spin-orbit condensates under such perturbations are derived for most currently known realistic laser schemes that induce synthetic spin-orbit couplings. The Gross-Pitaevskii equation is solved for several experimentally relevant regimes. The new interesting effects include spatial separation of left- and right-moving spin-orbit condensates, the appearance of unusual vortex arrangements, and parity effects in vortex nucleation where the topological excitations are predicted to appear in pairs. All these phenomena are shown to be highly non-universal and depend strongly on a specific laser scheme and system parameters.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗