Spin-orbit coupling induced fractionalized Skyrmion excitations in rotating and rapidly quenched spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates

TL;DR

This paper explores how spin-orbit coupling and rotation induce fractionalized Skyrmion excitations in spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing controllable radial lattice structures that are experimentally feasible.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation and control of fractionalized Skyrmions in spin-1 BECs through spin-orbit coupling and rotation, a novel insight into topological excitations.

Findings

Fractionalized Skyrmions depend on spin-orbit coupling and rotation.

Radial lattice structures form when spin-orbit coupling exceeds a critical value.

Experimental realization and detection are feasible with current technology.

Abstract

We investigate the fractionalized Skyrmion excitations induced by spin-orbit coupling in rotating and rapidly quenched spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates. Our results show that the fractionalized Skyrmion excitation depends on the combination of spin-orbit coupling and rotation, and it originates from a dipole structure of spin which is always embedded in three vortices constructed by each condensate component respectively. When spin-orbit coupling is larger than a critical value, the fractionalized Skyrmions encircle the center with one or several circles to form a radial lattice, which occurs even in the strong ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic condensates. We can use both the spin-orbit coupling and the rotation to adjust the radial lattice. The realization and the detection of the fractionalized Skyrmions are compatible with current experimental technology.