Pinning Transition of Bose-Einstein Condensates in Optical Ring Resonators

TL;DR

This paper experimentally studies the stability of Bose-Einstein condensates in an asymmetrically pumped optical ring resonator, revealing a critical detuning beyond which the system stabilizes, supported by phase diagrams and numerical simulations.

Contribution

It provides the first experimental analysis of the pinning transition in BECs within optical ring resonators, including phase diagrams and a geometric interpretation of the nonlinear dynamics.

Findings

System becomes stable beyond a critical detuning

Phase diagrams and quenching curves are characterized

Numerical simulations support experimental results

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the dynamic instability of Bose-Einstein condensates in an optical ring resonator that is asymmetrically pumped in both directions. We find that, beyond a critical resonator-pump detuning, the system becomes stable regardless of the pump strength. Phase diagrams and quenching curves are presented and described by numerical simulations. We discuss a physical explanation based on a geometric interpretation of the underlying nonlinear equations of motion.