Split Instability of a Vortex in an Attractive Bose-Einstein Condensate

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamical instabilities of vortices in attractive Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing that quadrupole instability causes vortex splitting at weaker interactions than other instabilities, with subsequent reuniting or collapse.

Contribution

It identifies the quadrupole dynamical instability as the primary cause of vortex splitting in attractive BECs, highlighting its occurrence at lower interaction strengths than monopole and dipole instabilities.

Findings

Vortex splits via quadrupole instability at weaker interactions.

Split pieces can rejoin or collapse.

Quadrupole instability is dominant over monopole and dipole instabilities.

Abstract

An attractive Bose-Einstein condensate with a vortex splits into two pieces via the quadrupole dynamical instability, which arises at a weaker strength of interaction than the monopole and the dipole instabilities. The split pieces subsequently unite to restore the original vortex or collapse.