Macroscopic Efimov effect of quantized vortex

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a macroscopic Efimov effect in a three-component Bose-Einstein Condensate, revealing a topological phase transition with potential implications for quantum information and many-body physics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a vortex Efimov effect in BECs, demonstrating a novel topological phase transition through theoretical and numerical analysis.

Findings

Three vortices form a bound state under certain conditions.

Removing one vortex unbinds the others, showing Efimov-like behavior.

Proposes experimental methods to observe the effect.

Abstract

The three-body problem, from the chaotic motions of celestial bodies to complex microscopic particle interactions, has always been one of the most foundational yet intricate challenges in physics since its establishment. A key breakthrough in this domain is the Efimov effect, which represents a significant stride in what is now known as Efimov physics. Our study uncovers a macroscopic Efimov effect in a three-component Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) system. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, it is verified that under certain conditions, three vortices form a bound state, while removing one vortex causes the others to unbind, demonstrating topological characteristics similar to the Borromean rings, hence termed the `vortex Efimov effect', signifying a novel topological phase transition. We propose several experimental approaches to realize this macroscopic Efimov effect, paving new paths not only in many-body physics but also in exploring quantum phase transitions and applications in quantum information.