# Observation of Two Sound Modes in a Binary Superfluid Gas

## TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental observation of two distinct sound modes, density and spin, in a binary superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate, confirming two-fluid hydrodynamics and measuring sound velocity ratios.

## Contribution

First experimental identification of density and spin sound modes in a binary superfluid Bose-Einstein condensate, validating two-fluid hydrodynamics without requiring absolute density calibration.

## Key findings

- Two sound modes observed: density and spin.
- Measured sound velocity ratio matches theoretical predictions.
- Sound propagation explained by two-fluid hydrodynamics.

## Abstract

We study the propagation of sound waves in a binary superfluid gas with two symmetric components. The binary superfluid is constituted using a Bose-Einstein condensate of $^{23}$Na in an equal mixture of two hyperfine ground states. Sound waves are excited in the condensate by applying a local spin-dependent perturbation with a focused laser beam. We identify two distinct sound modes, referred to as density sound and spin sound, where the densities of the two spin components oscillate in phase and out of phase, respectively. The observed sound propagation is explained well by the two-fluid hydrodynamics of the binary superfluid. The ratio of the two sound velocities is precisely measured with no need for absolute density calibration, and we find it in quantitatively good agreement with known interaction properties of the binary system.