Chiral currents in Bose-Einstein condensates subject to current-density interactions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how current-density interactions induce chirality in persistent currents of Bose-Einstein condensates in a ring geometry, revealing stable and unstable current states with potential experimental realization.

Contribution

It analytically finds and numerically tests the stability of chiral current states in BECs with current-density interactions, extending known solutions to mean-field equations.

Findings

Stable currents exist for both constant and modulated density states.

Unidirectional velocity threshold causes decay of currents.

Experimental conditions are suitable for observing these states.

Abstract

Persistent currents in quasi-one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates become chiral in the presence of current-density interactions. This phenomenon is explored in ultracold atoms loaded in a rotating ring geometry, where diverse current-carrying stationary states are analytically found to generalize previously known solutions to the mean-field equations of motion. Their dynamical stability is tested by numerical simulations that show stable currents for states with both constant and modulated density profiles, while decaying currents appear only beyond a unidirectional velocity threshold. Recent experiments in the field make these states within experimental reach.