Stabilizing the Discrete Vortex of Topological Charge S=2

TL;DR

This paper investigates the instability of discrete vortices with topological charge S=2 and demonstrates the existence of stable configurations in a modified lattice model, indicating potential for experimental observation of higher charge vortices.

Contribution

It introduces a modified lattice model with an inert central site that stabilizes S=2 discrete vortices, a novel approach in vortex stability analysis.

Findings

Stable S=2 vortices exist in the modified model.

Stability range comparable to experimental S=1 vortices.

Central site inertness stabilizes higher charge vortices.

Abstract

We study the instability of the discrete vortex with topological charge S=2 in a prototypical lattice model and observe its mediation through the central lattice site. Motivated by this finding, we analyze the model with the central site being inert. We identify analytically and observe numerically the existence of a range of linearly stable discrete vortices with S=2 in the latter model. The range of stability is comparable to that of the recently observed experimentally S=1 discrete vortex, suggesting the potential for observation of such higher charge discrete vortices.