Onsager vortex formation in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates

TL;DR

This study numerically investigates vortex dynamics in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing that inter-component repulsion leads to vortex phase separation and suppresses Onsager vortex formation.

Contribution

It demonstrates that in two-component BECs, vortex phase separation occurs due to inter-component repulsion, preventing Onsager vortex formation even in miscible states.

Findings

Vortices of different components spatially separate.

Inter-component repulsion suppresses Onsager vortex formation.

Vortex phase separation is a new phenomenon in two-component BECs.

Abstract

We numerically study the dynamics of quantized vortices in two-dimensional two-component Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) trapped by a box potential. For one-component BECs in a box potential, it is known that quantized vortices form Onsager vortices, which are clusters of same-sign vortices. We confirm that the vortices of the two components spatially separate from each other-even for miscible two-component BECs-suppressing the formation of Onsager vortices. This phenomenon is caused by the repulsive interaction between vortices belonging to different components, hence, suggesting a new possibility for vortex phase separation.