Quantum fluctuations on top of a $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric Bose-Einstein Condensate

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum fluctuations influence parity-time ($ ext{PT}$) symmetric Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing $ ext{PT}$-symmetry breaking, modified excitation spectra, and enhanced droplet formation, with implications for cold atom experiments.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum fluctuations can break $ ext{PT}$-symmetry in BECs and affect their excitation spectrum and stability, providing new insights into $ ext{PT}$-symmetric quantum systems.

Findings

$ ext{PT}$-symmetry can be spontaneously broken by quantum fluctuations.

The Bogoliubov spectrum exhibits $ ext{PT}$-breaking transitions tunable by interactions.

Presence of $ ext{PT}$ potential enhances mean-field collapse and droplet formation.

Abstract

We investigate the effects of quantum fluctuations in a parity-time($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric two-species Bose-Einstein Condensate(BEC). It is found that the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry, though preserved by the macroscopic condensate, can be spontaneously broken by its Bogoliubov quasi-particles under quantum fluctuations. The associated $\mathcal{PT}$-breaking transitions in the Bogoliubov spectrum can be conveniently tuned by the interaction anisotropy in spin channels and the strength of $\mathcal{PT}$ potential. In the $\mathcal{PT}$-unbroken regime, the real Bogoliubov modes are generally gapped, in contrast to the gapless phonon mode in Hermitian case. Moreover, the presence of $\mathcal{PT}$ potential is found to enhance the mean-field collapse and thereby intrigue the droplet formation after incorporating the repulsive force from quantum fluctuations. These remarkable interplay effects of $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetry and interaction can be directly probed in cold atoms experiments, which shed light on related quantum phenomena in general $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric systems.