Sum rules, dipole oscillation and spin polarizability of a spin-orbit coupled quantum gas

TL;DR

This paper uses a sum rule approach to analyze the dipole oscillation and spin polarizability in a spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensate, revealing phase transition signatures and comparing with experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a sum rule method to study dipole oscillations in spin-orbit coupled gases, highlighting the role of spin polarizability and phase transition effects.

Findings

Dipole frequency shows a jump at the stripe to spin-polarized phase transition.

Near the second order transition, the frequency approaches zero for large condensates.

Results align with recent experimental data and effective mass predictions.

Abstract

Using a sum rule approach we investigate the dipole oscillation of a spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a harmonic trap. The crucial role played by the spin polarizability of the gas is pointed out. We show that the lowest dipole frequency exhibits a characteristic jump at the transition between the stripe and spin-polarized phase. Near the second order transition between the spin-polarized and the single minimum phase the lowest frequency is vanishingly small for large condensates, reflecting the divergent behavior of the spin polarizability. We compare our results with recent experimental measurements as well as with the predictions of effective mass approximation.