Vortex Structures Formed by the Interference of Sliced Condensates

TL;DR

This paper investigates how interference of higher-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates leads to various vortex structures, including rings and necklaces, with implications for experimental realization and understanding of quantum fluid dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates the generic formation of vortex structures from interfering higher-dimensional BECs and explores additional complex configurations unique to higher dimensions.

Findings

Vortex rings and necklaces can form from BEC interference.

The phase difference influences vortex pattern formation.

Damping effects impact vortex stability and evolution.

Abstract

We study the formation of vortices, vortex necklaces and vortex ring structures as a result of the interference of higher-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). This study is motivated by earlier theoretical results pertaining to the formation of dark solitons by interfering quasi one-dimensional BECs, as well as recent experiments demonstrating the formation of vortices by interfering higher-dimensional BECs. Here, we demonstrate the genericity of the relevant scenario, but also highlight a number of additional possibilities emerging in higher-dimensional settings. A relevant example is, e.g., the formation of a "cage" of vortex rings surrounding the three-dimensional bulk of the condensed atoms. The effects of the relative phases of the different BEC fragments and the role of damping due to coupling with the thermal cloud are also discussed. Our predictions should be immediately tractable in currently existing experimental BEC setups.