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V. Romero-Rochín

Publications and source records attributed to V. Romero-Rochín.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Mean-field behavior of the finite size Ising model near its critical point

Universality classes encompass the analogous thermodynamic behavior of unlike physical systems, at different spatial dimensions $d$, in the vicinity of their critical point. Critical exponents define these classes, with the Ising model being the outstanding prototype that elucidates the differences from the mean-field category, believed to be valid above a critical dimension only. Here, in apparent striking contradiction to the Ising universality class, we demonstrate that the critical behavior of a finite Ising system of $N$ spins in $d = 3$ obeys mean-field Landau theory in the vicinity of its critical point, with classical critical exponents. Yet, when expressed in terms of the linear size $L$ of the system, the free energy unveils its proper finite-size scaling form, from which the thermodynamic limit critical temperature $T_c$ and the Ising critical exponents $\nu$, $\gamma$ and $\beta$ can be identified. We find that the larger the size $L$, the smaller the mean-field region, shrinking to zero in the thermodynamic limit. These conclusions are achieved via the use of an alternative approach to collect data from a Monte Carlo simulation of a three-dimensional Ising model that allows for the evaluation of the free energy per spin $f = f(T,m;L)$ and of the coexistence curve, or spontaneous magnetization at zero magnetic field, $m_{\rm coex} = m(T;L)$ as functions of temperature $T$ and magnetization per spin $m = M/N$. Our results suggest a revision of the role of mean-field theory in the elucidation of critical phenomena.

cond-mat.stat-mech

2D Skyrmion topological charge of spin textures with arbitrary boundary conditions: a two-component spinorial BEC as a case study

We derive the most general expression for the Skyrmion topological charge for a two-dimensional spin texture, valid for any type of boundary conditions or for any arbitrary spatial region within the texture. It reduces to the usual one $Q = 1/4π\iint \vec f \cdot \left(\partial_x \vec f \times \partial_y \vec f\right)$ for the appropriate boundary conditions, with $\vec f$ the spin texture. The general expression resembles the Gauss-Bonet theorem for the Euler-Poincaré characteristic of a 2D surface, but it has definite differences, responsible for the assignment of the proper signs of the Skyrmion charges. Additionally, we show that the charge of a single Skyrmion is the product of the value of the normal component of the spin texture at the singularity times the Index or winding number of the transverse texture, a generalization of a Poincaré theorem. We illustrate our general results analyzing in detail a two-component spinor Bose-Einstein condensate in 2D in the presence of an external magnetic field, via the Gross-Pitaevskii equation. The condensate spin textures present Skyrmions singularities at the spatial locations where the transverse magnetic field vanishes. We show that the ensuing superfluid vortices and Skyrmions have the same value for their corresponding topological charges, in turn due to the structure of the magnetic field.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Intrinsic decoherence and recurrences in a large ferromagnetic $F = 1$ spinor Bose-Einstein condensate

Decoherence with recurrences appear in the dynamics of the one-body density matrix of an $F = 1$ spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, initially prepared in coherent states, in the presence of an external uniform magnetic field and within the single mode approximation. The phenomenon emerges as a many-body effect of the interplay of the quadratic Zeeman effect, that breaks the rotational symmetry, and the spin-spin interactions. By performing full quantum diagonalizations very accurate time evolution of large condensates are analyzed, leading to heuristic analytic expressions for the time dependence of the one-body density matrix, in the weak and strong interacting regimes, for initial coherent states. We are able to find accurate analytical expressions for both the decoherence and the recurrence times, in terms of the number of atoms and strength parameters, that show remarkable differences depending on the strength of the spin-spin interactions. The features of the stationary states in both regimes is also investigated. We discuss the nature of these limits in the light of the thermodynamic limit.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Thermodynamic derivation of scaling at the liquid-vapor critical point

With the use of thermodynamics and general equilibrium conditions only, we study the entropy of a fluid in the vicinity of the critical point of the liquid-vapor phase transition. By assuming a general form for the coexistence curve in the vicinity of the critical point, we show that the functional dependence of the entropy as a function of energy and particle densities necessarily obeys the scaling form hypothesized by Widom. Our analysis allows for a discussion on the properties of the corresponding scaling function, with the interesting prediction that the critical isotherm has the same functional dependence, between the energy and particles densities, as the coexistence curve. In addition to the derivation of the expected equalities of the critical exponents, the conditions that lead to scaling also imply that while the specific heat at constant volume can diverge at the critical point, the isothermal compressibility must do so.

cond-mat.stat-mech

Validity of Gross-Pitaevskii solutions of harmonically confined BEC gases in reduced dimensions

By exact numerical solutions of the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation in 3D, we assess the validity of 1D and 2D approximations in the study of Bose-Einstein condensates confined in harmonic trap potentials. Typically, these approximations are performed when one or more of the harmonic frequencies are much greater than the remaining ones, using arguments based on the adiabatic evolution of the initial approximated state. Deviations from the 3D solution are evaluated as a function of both the effective interaction strength and the ratio between the trap frequencies that define the reduced dimension where the condensate is confined. The observables analyzed are both stationary and dynamical character, namely, the chemical potential, the wave function profiles, and the time evolution of the approximated 1D and 2D stationary states, considered as initial states in the 3D GP equation. Our study, besides setting quantitative limits on approximations previously developed, should be useful in actual experimental studies where quasi-1D and quasi-2D conditions are assumed. From a qualitative perspective, 1D and 2D approximations certainly become valid when the anisotropy is large, but in addition, the interaction strength needs to be above a certain threshold.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Critical properties of weakly interacting Bose gases as modified by a harmonic confinement

The critical properties of the phase transition from a normal gas to a BEC (superfluid) of a harmonically confined Bose gas are addressed with the knowledge of an equation of state of the underlying homogeneous Bose fluid. It is shown that while the presence of the confinement trap arrests the usual divergences of the isothermal compressibility and heat capacities, the critical behavior manifests itself now in the divergence of derivatives of the mentioned susceptibilities. This result is illustrated with a mean-field like model of an equation of state for the homogeneous particle density as a function of the chemical potential and temperature of the gas. The model assumes the form of an ideal Bose gas in the normal fluid while in the superfluid state a function is proposed such that, both, asymptotically reaches the Thomas-Fermi solution of a weakly interacting Bose gas at large densities and low temperatures and, at the transition, matches the critical properties of the ideal Bose gas. With this model we obtain the {\it global} thermodynamics of the harmonically confined gas, from which we analyze its critical properties. We discuss how these properties can be experimentally tested.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Skyrmion-string defects with arbitrary topological charges in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

Under the presence of external magnetic fields with cylindrical symmetry, Skyrmion-string defects with arbitrary topological charges are shown to appear in spinor $F = 1$ Bose-Einstein condensates. We show that, depending on the magnetic field boundary condition, the topological spin texture, at the planes perpendicular to the cylindrical axis, can take zero, half integer, or arbitrary values between $-1/2$ and $1/2$. We argue that these are true topological defects since their charge is independent of the spatial location of the singularity and since the total Skyrmion charge is the sum of the individual charges of the defects present. Our findings are obtained by numerically solving the corresponding fully coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations without any symmetry assumptions. We analyze, both, polar $^{23}$Na and ferromagnetic $^{87}$Rb condensates.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Macroscopic excitations in confined Bose-Einstein condensates, searching for quantum turbulence

We present a survey of macroscopic excitations of harmonically confined Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC), described by Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation, in search of routes to develop quantum turbulence. These excitations can all be created by phase imprinting techniques on an otherwise equilibrium Bose-Einstein condensate. We analyze two crossed vortices, two parallel anti-vortices, a vortex ring, a vortex with topological charge Q = 2, and a tangle of 4 vortices. Since GP equation is time-reversal invariant, we are careful to distinguish time intervals in which this symmetry is preserved and those in which rounding errors play a role. We find that the system tends to reach stationary states that may be widely classified as having either an array of vortices with collective excitations at different length scales or an agitated state composed mainly of Bogoliubov phonons.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Energetic cooling below the BEC transition: a quantum kinetic description within the Bogoliubov approximation

The dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensation in a three-dimensional harmonic trap is studied explicitly including the Bogoliubov approximation for temperatures below the critical one. To model the evolution towards equilibrium at each cooling step, we derive quantum kinetic equations that describe the dynamics of the gas for temperatures above and below the transition temperature. These equations, valid in the Born and Markov approximations, consider the essential role of the chemical potential as the main parameter that signals the transition. The kinetic equation that describes the growth of the condensate below the transition temperature is derived within the Bogoliubov approximation. To illustrate our results we propose an energetic cooling protocol and simulate the whole sequence of the formation of a condensate.

cond-mat.quant-gas

Quantum turbulence by vortex stirring in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate

We introduce a novel mechanism to develop a turbulent flow in a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate, consisting in the stirring of a single line vortex by means of an external magnetic field. We find that density and velocity fluctuations have white-noise power spectra at large frequencies and that Kolmogorov 5/3 law is obeyed in the turbulent region. As the stirring is turned off, the flow decays to an agitated non-equilibrium state that shows an energy bottleneck crossover at small length scales. We demonstrate our findings by numerically solving two-state spinor coupled 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equations. We suggest that this mechanism may be experimentally implemented in spinor ultracold gases confined by optical traps.

cond-mat.quant-gas