The Mass of a Spin Vortex in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

TL;DR

This paper investigates the inertial properties and effective mass of spin vortices in ferromagnetic Bose-Einstein condensates, highlighting how their mass depends on spin interactions and can be experimentally measured.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of inertial mass for spin vortices and provides estimates based on specific atomic interactions and experimental conditions.

Findings

Spin vortices in ferromagnetic BECs have measurable inertial mass.

The mass depends on spin-dependent interactions.

Estimated vortex mass for Rb87 in a 1 micron trap is about 10^-21 kg.

Abstract

In contrast to charge vortices in a superfluid, spin vortices in a ferromagnetic condensate move inertially (if the condensate has zero magnetization along an axis). The mass of spin vortices depends on the spin-dependent interactions, and can be measured as a part of experiments on how spin vortices orbit one another. For Rb87 in a 1 micron thick trap m_v is about 10^-21 kg.