Quantum spirals

TL;DR

This paper introduces a nonlinear mechanism in quantum fluids that enables the formation of spiral vortex states, challenging the traditional view that quantum systems cannot sustain vorticity.

Contribution

It demonstrates how thermal effects combined with spin vorticity can produce spiral quantum states in a field-free model, expanding understanding of vorticity in quantum fluids.

Findings

Thermal effects induce nonlinear, non-Hermitian Hamiltonian dynamics.

Spiral vortex solutions are explicitly derived in the model.

Quantum vorticity can be achieved without external fields.

Abstract

Quantum systems often exhibit fundamental incapability to entertain vortex. The Meissner effect, a complete expulsion of the magnetic field (the electromagnetic vorticity), for instance, is taken to be the defining attribute of the superconducting state. Superfluidity is another, close-parallel example; fluid vorticity can reside only on topological defects with a limited (quantized) amount. Recent developments in the Bose-Einstein condensates produced by particle traps further emphasize this characteristic. We show that the challenge of imparting vorticity to a quantum fluid can be met through a nonlinear mechanism operating in a hot fluid corresponding to a thermally modified Pauli-Schroedinger spinor field. In a simple field-free model, we show that the thermal effect, represented by a nonlinear, non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, in conjunction with spin vorticity, leads to new interesting quantum states; a spiral solution is explicitly worked out.