Model of a PT symmetric Bose-Einstein condensate in a delta-functions double well

TL;DR

This paper models a PT symmetric Bose-Einstein condensate in a double well potential using delta-functions, exploring the effects of nonlinearity on PT symmetry properties in a simplified quantum system.

Contribution

It introduces a simple one-dimensional delta-function model for PT symmetric BECs, analyzing nonlinear effects and guiding future experimental studies.

Findings

Nonlinearity affects PT symmetry breaking in BECs

Delta-function model captures essential PT symmetric features

Guides realistic BEC PT symmetry experiments

Abstract

The observation of PT symmetry in a coupled optical wave guide system that involves a complex refractive index has been demonstrated impressively in the experiment by R\"uter el al. (Nat. Phys. 6, 192, 2010). This is, however, only an optical analogue of a quantum system, and it would be highly desirable to observe the manifestation of PT symmetry and the resulting properties also in a real, experimentally accessible, quantum system. Following a suggestion by Klaiman et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 080402, 2008), we investigate a PT symmetric arrangement of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a double well potential, where in one well cold atoms are injected while in the other particles are extracted from the condensate. We investigate, in particular, the effects of the nonlinearity in the Gross-Pitaevskii equation on the PT properties of the condensate. To study these effects we analyze a simple one-dimensional model system in which the condensate is placed into two PT symmetric delta-function traps. The analysis will serve as a useful guide for studies of the behaviour of Bose-Einstein condensates in realistic PT symmetric double wells.