Spontaneous creation of non-zero angular momentum modes in tunnel-coupled two-dimensional degenerate Bose gases

TL;DR

This paper explores how tunnel coupling in two-dimensional Bose gases can spontaneously generate non-zero angular momentum modes, leading to vortex formation and symmetry breaking, with dynamics highly sensitive to initial conditions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the controlled excitation of angular momentum modes in 2D Bose gases through tuning tunnel coupling, revealing complex dynamical phenomena.

Findings

Spontaneous creation of angular momentum modes observed.

Vortex production and chiral symmetry breaking demonstrated.

System exhibits high sensitivity to initial phase and coupling strength.

Abstract

We investigate the dynamics of two tunnel-coupled two-dimensional degenerate Bose gases. The reduced dimensionality of the clouds enables us to excite specific angular momentum modes by tuning the coupling strength, thereby creating striking patterns in the atom density profile. The extreme sensitivity of the system to the coupling and initial phase difference results in a rich variety of subsequent dynamics, including vortex production, complex oscillations in relative atom number and chiral symmetry breaking due to counter-rotation of the two clouds.