Coherent spin mixing dynamics in a spin-1 atomic condensate

TL;DR

This paper investigates the coherent spin mixing dynamics in a spin-1 atomic condensate using mean field theory, revealing pendulum-like behavior and oscillations that explain recent experimental findings.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified model describing spin dynamics as a nonrigid pendulum, providing new insights into interaction-driven oscillations in spinor condensates.

Findings

Spin dynamics resemble a nonrigid pendulum.

Periodic oscillations depend on external magnetic fields.

Results explain recent experimental observations.

Abstract

We study the coherent off-equilibrium spin mixing inside an atomic condensate. Using mean field theory and adopting the single spatial mode approximation (SMA), the condensate spin dynamics is found to be well described by that of a nonrigid pendulum, and displays a variety of periodic oscillations in an external magnetic field. Our results illuminate several recent experimental observations and provide critical insights into the observation of coherent interaction-driven oscillations in a spin-1 condensate.