Vortex Molecules in Spinor Condensates

TL;DR

This paper explores how vortices in spinor condensates, especially cyclic spin 2 types with tetrahedral symmetry, can form bound states under magnetic fields and how their stability varies with temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a symmetry-based classification of vortices in spinor condensates and analyzes their stability and interactions in the presence of magnetic fields.

Findings

Vortices can form bound states in spinor condensates under magnetic fields.

Certain vortex configurations are stable at zero temperature but decay at finite temperatures.

Symmetry classification helps predict vortex interactions and stability.

Abstract

Condensates of atoms with spins can have vortices of several types; these are related to the symmetry group of the atoms' ground state. We discuss how, when a condensate is placed in a small magnetic field that breaks the spin symmetry, these vortices may form bound states. Using symmetry classification of vortex-charge and rough estimates for vortex interactions, one can show that some configurations that are stable at zero temperature can decay at finite temperatures by crossing over energy barriers. Our focus is cyclic spin 2 condensates, which have tetrahedral symmetry.