Stirring Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how stirring a Bose-Einstein condensate with a focused laser beam along a spiral path can induce vortices and even cause the condensate to rotate opposite to the stirring direction.

Contribution

It introduces a method to control vortex creation and rotation direction in Bose-Einstein condensates using laser stirring along a spiral trajectory.

Findings

Laser stirring creates vortices in the condensate.

Rotation opposite to stirring direction can be induced.

Vortex dynamics depend on stirring path and parameters.

Abstract

By shining a tightly focused laser light on the condensate and moving the center of the beam along the spiral line one may stir the condensate and create vortices. It is shown that one can induce rotation of the condensate in the direction opposite to the direction of the stirring.