Tuning the shape of the condensate in spontaneous symmetry breaking

TL;DR

This paper explores how the shape of a particle condensate formed through spontaneous translational symmetry breaking can be controlled and predicted in a one-dimensional lattice model with various interaction potentials.

Contribution

It introduces a method to predict and tune the condensate shape from a delta-peak to more extended forms in a lattice model with particle interactions.

Findings

The condensate shape can be predicted based on interaction potentials.

The width of the condensate scales with system size.

Shape tuning from delta-peak to rectangular or parabolic forms is achievable.

Abstract

We investigate what determines the shape of a particle condensate in situations when it emerges as a result of spontaneous breaking of translational symmetry. We consider a model with particles hopping between sites of a one-dimensional grid and interacting if they are at the same or at neighboring nodes. We predict the envelope of the condensate and the scaling of its width with the system size for various interaction potentials and show how to tune the shape from a delta-peak to a rectangular or a parabolic-like form.