Evolution of a spinor condensate: coherent dynamics, dephasing and revivals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the dynamics of spinor Bose-Einstein condensates, focusing on how spin interactions and magnetic fields cause dephasing, revivals, and transition from coherent oscillations to thermal equilibrium.

Contribution

It provides experimental measurements and a theoretical model detailing the interplay of spin interactions and magnetic fields in atomic spinor condensates, highlighting dephasing and revival phenomena.

Findings

Observation of transition from coherent oscillations to thermal equilibrium

Identification of quadratic Zeeman dephasing effects

Model explaining interplay of interactions and magnetic fields

Abstract

We present measurements and a theoretical model for the interplay of spin dependent interactions and external magnetic fields in atomic spinor condensates. We highlight general features like quadratic Zeeman dephasing and its influence on coherent spin mixing processes by focusing on a specific coherent superposition state in a F=1 $^{87}$Rb Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we observe the transition from coherent spinor oscillations to thermal equilibration.