Strong correlations in quantum vortex nucleation of ultracold atomic gases

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical advances in understanding quantum vortex nucleation in ultracold atomic gases, highlighting the role of strong correlations, entanglement, and noise correlations across different trapping configurations.

Contribution

It compares vortex nucleation in various trap geometries, revealing how quantum correlations and entanglement differ and can be probed through noise correlations.

Findings

Critical rotation frequency induces strong quantum correlations.

Entanglement properties vary significantly across configurations.

Noise correlations can detect differences in quantum states.

Abstract

We review some recent developments in the theory of rotating atomic gases. These studies have thrown light on the process of nucleation of vortices in regimes where mean-field methods are inadequate. In our review we shall describe and compare quantum vortex nucleation of a dilute ultracold bosonic gas trapped in three different configurations: a one-dimensional ring lattice, a one-dimensional ring superlattice and a two-dimensional asymmetric harmonic trap. In all of them there is a critical rotation frequency, at which the particles in the ground state exhibit strong quantum correlations. However, the entanglement properties vary significantly from case to case. We explain these differences by characterizing the intermediate states that participate in the vortex nucleation process. Finally, we show that noise correlations are sensitive to these differences. These new studies have, therefore, shown how novel quantum states may be produced and probed in future experiments with rotating neutral atom systems.