Dynamics of F=2 Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

TL;DR

This paper experimentally studies the complex dynamics of F=2 spinor Bose-Einstein condensates of Rb87, revealing interactions between spin dynamics, hyperfine-changing losses, and thermal effects, with detailed measurements of collision rates and magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on spin-changing collision rates, loss mechanisms, and magnetic behaviors in F=2 Rb87 condensates, highlighting their rich dynamical properties.

Findings

Measured spin-changing collision rates around 10^-12 cm^3/s

Observed polar behavior in F=2 ground state of Rb87

Detected magnetization in condensates with non-zero total spin

Abstract

We experimentally investigate and analyze the rich dynamics in F=2 spinor Bose-Einstein condensates of Rb87. An interplay between mean-field driven spin dynamics and hyperfine-changing losses in addition to interactions with the thermal component is observed. In particular we measure conversion rates in the range of 10^-12 cm^3/s for spin changing collisions within the F=2 manifold and spin-dependent loss rates in the range of 10^-13 cm^3/s for hyperfine-changing collisions. From our data we observe a polar behavior in the F=2 ground state of Rb87, while we measure the F=1 ground state to be ferromagnetic. Furthermore we see a magnetization for condensates prepared with non-zero total spin.