The nucleation, growth and stabilization of vortex lattices

TL;DR

This paper presents a unified theory explaining how vortex lattices form and stabilize in rotating quantum fluids, emphasizing the role of thermal clouds and predicting vortex numbers during formation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model for vortex nucleation and lattice stabilization, applicable from initial vortex creation to final lattice formation, including effects of thermal clouds.

Findings

Consistent with previous critical velocity results

Predicts initial vortex number before lattice self-assembly

Highlights the crucial role of thermal clouds in vortex nucleation

Abstract

We give a simple unified theory of vortex nucleation and vortex lattice formation which is valid from the initiation process up to the final stabilization of the lattice. We treat the growth of vortex lattices from a rotating thermal cloud, and their production using a rotating trap. We find results consistent with previous work on the critical velocity or critical angular velocity for vortex formation, and predict the initial number of vortices expected before their self assembly into a lattice. We show that the thermal cloud plays a crucial role in the process of vortex lattice nucleation.