Localization of an inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensate in a moving random potential

TL;DR

This paper investigates how a moving random potential affects the localization of atoms in an inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensate, revealing that only part of the atoms localize at high velocities, with localization enhanced by correlated disorder.

Contribution

It demonstrates the partial localization phenomenon in an inhomogeneous BEC and shows how correlations in the disorder potential can increase localization.

Findings

Only a percentage of atoms localize at supersonic velocities.

Correlated disorder potentials like random dimers enhance localization.

Inhomogeneity influences the extent of atom localization.

Abstract

We study the dynamics of a harmonically trapped quasi-one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate subjected to a moving disorder potential of finite extent. We show that, due to the inhomogeneity of the sample, only a percentage of the atoms is localized at supersonic velocities of a random potential. We find that this percentage can be sensitively increased by introducing suitable correlations in the disorder potential such as those provided by random dimers.