Non-integrable dynamics of matter-wave solitons in a density-dependent gauge theory

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex, non-integrable collision behaviors of matter-wave solitons influenced by a density-dependent gauge field, revealing inelastic interactions, bound states, and effective potentials through simulations and modeling.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of chiral soliton interactions under a density-dependent gauge potential, combining numerical simulations with an effective quasi-particle model.

Findings

Inelastic collision phenomena including population transfer and radiation losses.

Formation of short-lived bound states and soliton fission.

Gauge field effects manifest as short-range attractive or repulsive potentials.

Abstract

We study interactions between bright matter-wave solitons which acquire chiral transport dynamics due to an optically-induced density-dependent gauge potential. Through numerical simulations, we find that the collision dynamics feature several non-integrable phenomena, from inelastic collisions including population transfer and radiation losses to short-lived bound states and soliton fission. An effective quasi-particle model for the interaction between the solitons is derived by means of a variational approximation, which demonstrates that the inelastic nature of the collision arises from a coupling of the gauge field to velocities of the solitons. In addition, we derive a set of interaction potentials which show that the influence of the gauge field appears as a short-range potential, that can give rise to both attractive and repulsive interactions.