Bose-Einstein condensates with localized spin-orbit coupling: soliton complexes and spinor dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how localized spin-orbit coupling in Bose-Einstein condensates influences soliton interactions, enabling stable soliton complexes and dynamic spinor behavior, with potential for controlled soliton scattering and spin transfer.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a localized SO defect in BECs, analyzes its effects with Zeeman splitting, and demonstrates the formation of stable soliton complexes and spin dynamics.

Findings

Stable nearly scalar soliton complexes form above a particle threshold.

Soliton scattering on the SO defect can cause spin precession and atomic transfer.

Localized SO coupling significantly alters soliton interactions and spinor dynamics.

Abstract

Spin-orbit (SO) coupling can be introduced in a Bose--Einstein condensate (BEC) as a gauge potential acting only in a localized spatial domain. Effect of such a SO "defect" can be understood by transforming the system to the integrable vector model. The properties of the SO-BEC change drastically if the SO defect is accompanied by the Zeeman splitting. In such a non-integrable system, the SO defect qualitatively changes the character of soliton interactions and allows for formation of stable nearly scalar soliton complexes with almost all atoms concentrated in only one dark state. These solitons exist only if the number of particles exceeds a threshold value. We also report on the possibility of transmission and reflection of a soliton upon its scattering on the SO defect. Scattering strongly affects the pseudo-spin polarization and can induce pseudo-spin precession. The scattering can also result in almost complete atomic transfer between the dark states.