Formation and quench of homonuclear and heteronuclear quantum droplets in one dimension

TL;DR

This paper investigates the effects of beyond Lee-Huang-Yang physics on one-dimensional quantum droplets, revealing how correlations influence their structure, dynamics, and stability, with implications for ultracold atom experiments.

Contribution

It provides a nonperturbative analysis of quantum droplets, highlighting the role of intercomponent correlations and the impact of mass imbalance and interaction quenches.

Findings

Droplets become narrower with stronger intracomponent repulsion.

Flat-top structures emerge at larger particle numbers or weaker intercomponent attraction.

Correlation holes are present at the mean-field cancellation point.

Abstract

We exemplify the impact of beyond Lee-Huang-Yang (LHY) physics, especially due to intercomponent correlations, in the ground state and the quench dynamics of one-dimensional so-called quantum droplets using an ab-initio nonperturbative approach. It is found that the droplet Gaussian-shaped configuration arising for intercomponent attractive couplings becomes narrower for stronger intracomponent repulsion and transits towards a flat-top structure either for larger particle numbers or weaker intercomponent attraction. Additionally, a harmonic trap prevents the flat-top formation. At the balance point where mean-field interactions cancel out, we show that a correlation hole is present in the few particle limit of these fluids as well as for flat-top droplets. Introducing mass-imbalance, droplets experience intercomponent mixing and excitation signatures are identified for larger masses. Monitoring the droplet expansion (breathing motion) upon considering interaction quenches to stronger (weaker) attractions we explicate that beyond LHY correlations result in a reduced velocity (breathing frequency). Strikingly, the droplets feature two-body anti-correlations (correlations) at the same position (longer distances). Our findings pave the way for probing correlation-induced phenomena of droplet dynamics in current ultracold atom experiments.