Observation of spinor dynamics in optically trapped 87Rb Bose-Einstein Condensates

TL;DR

This study investigates spinor dynamics in optically trapped 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing rapid spin mixing, oscillations, and magnetic field-dependent configurations, with observed decay and mixing times.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed measurements of spin mixing times, oscillations, and decay in F=1 and F=2 87Rb condensates under optical trapping conditions.

Findings

Spin mixing time is less than 600 ms.

Spin population oscillations are observed.

F=2 condensate decays with a 250 ms time constant.

Abstract

We measure spin mixing of F=1 and F=2 spinor condensates of 87Rb atoms confined in an optical trap. We determine the spin mixing time to be typically less than 600 ms and observe spin population oscillations. The equilibrium spin configuration in the F=1 manifold is measured for different magnetic fields and found to show ferromagnetic behavior for low field gradients. An F=2 condensate is created by microwave excitation from F=1 manifold, and this spin-2 condensate is observed to decay exponentially with time constant 250 ms. Despite the short lifetime in the F=2 manifold, spin mixing of the condensate is observed within 50 ms.