Spontaneous symmetry breaking in rotating condensates of ultracold atoms

TL;DR

This paper investigates a novel equilibrium state in rotating ultracold atomic condensates where spontaneous symmetry breaking occurs, characterized by internal circulation, vortex support, and distinct semiaxes, with implications for experimental detection.

Contribution

It introduces a new equilibrium state with spontaneous symmetry breaking in rotating condensates, analyzing its properties, oscillation modes, and experimental signatures.

Findings

Spontaneous breaking of rotational symmetry in the condensate.

Identification of a Goldstone mode related to symmetry loss.

Discussion of experimental methods to detect this state.

Abstract

We describe an equilibrium state of a rotating trapped atomic condensate, which is characterized by a non-zero internal circulation and spontaneous breaking of the rotational O(2) symmetry with all three major semiaxes of the condensate having different values. The macroscopic rotation of the condensate is supported by a mesh of quantized vortices, whose number density is a function of internal circulation. The oscillation modes of this state are computed and the Goldstone mode associated with the loss of the symmetry is identified. The possible avenues for experimental identification this state are discussed.