Optical tweezers for vortex rings in Bose-Einstein condensates

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel optical tweezer method to generate, trap, and stabilize vortex rings in Bose-Einstein condensates, enabling their manipulation in experimental settings.

Contribution

It introduces a new optical tweezer technique for creating and stabilizing vortex rings in Bose-Einstein condensates, advancing control over quantum fluid vortices.

Findings

Vortex rings can be stably trapped using optical tweezers.

The method allows for nondestructive manipulation of vortex rings.

Theoretical models confirm energetic and dynamical stability.

Abstract

We study formation and stabilization of vortex rings in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. We suggest a novel approach for generating and trapping of vortex rings by 'optical tweezers'--two blue-detuned optical beams forming a toroidal void in the bulk of a magnetically or optically confined condensate cloud. We demonstrate that matter-wave vortex rings trapped within the void are energetically and dynamically stable. Our theoretical findings suggest the possibility for generation, stabilization, and nondestructive manipulation of quantized vortex rings in experimentally feasible trapping configurations.