Vortex in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate with dipole-dipole interactions

TL;DR

This paper calculates the critical rotation frequency for vortex formation in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates, revealing how trap geometry influences vortex stability due to dipole-dipole interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first analysis of vortex energetics in dipolar BECs considering trap geometry and dipolar interactions, extending understanding beyond contact interactions.

Findings

Dipolar condensates in oblate traps have lower critical rotation frequencies.

Prolate traps increase the critical rotation frequency for vortices.

Quadrupole excitations may compete with vortices in carrying angular momentum.

Abstract

We calculate the critical rotation frequency at which a vortex state becomes energetically favorable over the vortex-free ground state in a harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate whose atoms have dipole-dipole interactions as well as the usual s-wave contact interactions. In the Thomas-Fermi (hydrodynamic) regime, dipolar condensates in oblate cylindrical traps (with the dipoles aligned along the axis of symmetry of the trap) tend to have lower critical rotation frequencies than their purely s-wave contact interaction counterparts. The converse is true for dipolar condensates in prolate traps. Quadrupole excitations and centre of mass motion are also briefly discussed as possible competing mechanisms to a vortex as means by which superfluids with partially attractive interactions might carry angular momentum