Emergence of Classical Rotation in Superfluid Bose-Einstein Condensates

TL;DR

This study reveals that in a rotating two-component Bose-Einstein condensate, classical solid body rotation can emerge within the quantum superfluid flow during phase separation, demonstrating a coexistence of classical and quantum dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the continuous transition of superfluid circulation to classical rotation during phase separation in a two-component BEC.

Findings

Circulation quantisation breaks down continuously during phase separation.

Stable long-term currents exhibit classical solid body rotation.

Unique velocity profiles include radial flow near phase boundaries.

Abstract

Phase transitions can modify quantum behaviour on mesoscopic scales and give access to new and unusual quantum dynamics. Here we investigate the superfluid properties of a rotating two-component Bose--Einstein condensate as a function of changes in the interaction energy and in particular through the phase transition from miscibility to immiscibility. We show that the breaking of one of the hallmarks of superfluid flow, namely the quantisation condition on circulation, is continuous throughout an azimuthal phase separation process and displays intriguing density dynamics. We find that the resulting currents are stable for long times and possess a phase boundary that exhibits classical solid body rotation, despite the quantum nature of superfluid flow. To support this co-existence of classical and quantum behaviour the system develops a unique velocity flow profile, which includes unusual radial flow in regions near the phase boundary.