Resonant Magnetic Vortices

TL;DR

This paper uses a semiclassical approach to analyze electron scattering by a magnetic vortex, revealing resonant surface waves that resemble quantum analogues of whispering-gallery modes, with potential applications in creating artificial atoms.

Contribution

It introduces a semiclassical analysis of magnetic vortex scattering using complex angular momentum, highlighting the role of Regge poles and surface wave resonances.

Findings

Identification of surface wave orbiting states as Regge poles

Observation of Breit-Wigner-type resonances in scattering cross sections

Proposal of magnetic vortices as artificial atoms

Abstract

By using the complex angular momentum method, we provide a semiclassical analysis of electron scattering by a magnetic vortex of Aharonov-Bohm-type. Regge poles of the $S$-matrix are associated with surface waves orbiting around the vortex and supported by a magnetic field discontinuity. Rapid variations of sharp characteristic shapes can be observed on scattering cross sections. They correspond to quasibound states which are Breit-Wigner-type resonances associated with surface waves and which can be considered as quantum analogues of acoustic whispering-gallery modes. Such a resonant magnetic vortex could provide a new kind of artificial atom while the semiclassical approach developed here could be profitably extended in various areas of the physics of vortices.