Dynamical spin-density waves in a spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper explores how a moving barrier can generate and influence dynamical spin-density waves in a spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Einstein condensate, revealing sensitivity to barrier velocity and potential.

Contribution

It numerically demonstrates the generation and control of dynamical SDWs in a SO coupled BEC via a moving Gaussian barrier, providing qualitative explanations and potential for future studies.

Findings

SDW wavelength depends on barrier velocity

SDW wavelength varies slightly with barrier potential and width

Results suggest rich dynamics in SO BEC induced by moving barriers

Abstract

Synthetic spin-orbit (SO) coupling, an important ingredient for quantum simulation of many exotic condensed matter physics, has recently attracted considerable attention. The static and dynamic properties of a SO coupled Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) have been extensively studied in both theory and experiment. Here we numerically investigate the generation and propagation of a \textit{dynamical} spin-density wave (SDW) in a SO coupled BEC using a fast moving Gaussian-shaped barrier. We find that the SDW wavelength is sensitive to the barrier's velocity while varies slightly with the barrier's peak potential or width. We qualitatively explain the generation of SDW by considering a rectangular barrier in a one dimensional system. Our results may motivate future experimental and theoretical investigations of rich dynamics in the SO coupled BEC induced by a moving barrier.