Spin transport in coupled spinor Bose gases

TL;DR

This paper presents direct measurements of spin transport in a trapped spinor Bose gas, revealing the dynamics of spin flux, exchange scattering, and domain formation, and highlighting the strong coupling between condensate and normal component spin waves.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of spin transport mechanisms and domain formation timescales in a partially condensed spinor Bose gas.

Findings

Observation of spin flux and spin waves in the normal component.

Identification of exchange scattering as a key mechanism.

Discrepancy in domain formation timescales indicating strong coupling.

Abstract

We report direct measurements of spin transport in a trapped, partially condensed spinor Bose gas. Detailed analyses of spin flux in this out-of-equilibrium quantum gas are performed by monitoring the flow of atoms in different hyperfine spin states. The main mechanisms for motion in this system are exchange scattering and potential energy inhomogeneity, which lead to spin waves in the normal component and domain formation in the condensate. We find a large discrepancy in domain formation timescales with those predicted by potential-driven formation, indicating strong coupling of the condensate to the normal component spin wave.