Supersolid-like states in a two-dimensional trapped spin-orbit-coupled spin-1 condensate

TL;DR

This paper investigates supersolid-like states in a two-dimensional spin-1 condensate with spin-orbit coupling, revealing various stable vortex and superlattice structures depending on the coupling strength and type.

Contribution

It introduces the formation of diverse supersolid-like states in a spin-1 condensate with Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit coupling, highlighting their stability and dependence on coupling parameters.

Findings

Formation of vortex states in ferromagnetic phase at low SO coupling

Emergence of superlattice and superstripe states at high SO coupling

Stable states are experimentally accessible

Abstract

We study supersolid-like states in a quasi-two-dimensional trapped Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit (SO) coupled spin-1 condensate. For small strengths of SO coupling $\gamma$ ($\gamma \lessapprox 0.75$), in the ferromagnetic phase, circularly-symmetric $(0,\pm 1, \pm 2)$- and $(\mp 1, 0,\pm 1)$-type states are formed where the numbers in the parentheses denote the angular momentum of the vortex at the center of the components and where the upper (lower) sign correspond to Rashba (Dresselhaus) coupling; in the antiferromagnetic phase, only $(\mp 1, 0,\pm 1)$-type states are formed. For large strengths of SO coupling, supersolid-like superlattice and superstripe states are formed in the ferromagnetic phase. In the antiferromagnetic phase, for large strengths of SO coupling, supersolid-like superstripe and multi-ring states are formed. For an equal mixture of Rashba and Dresselhaus SO couplings, only a superstripe state is found. All these states are found to be dynamically stable and hence accessible in an experiment and will enhance the fundamental understanding of crystallization onto spatially periodic states in solids.