Coherence properties of spinor condensates at finite temperatures

TL;DR

This paper investigates the finite-temperature coherence dynamics of spinor condensates of 87Rb atoms, revealing how thermalization, symmetry breaking, and spin-changing collisions influence coherence and spin textures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the evolution and coherence properties of spinor condensates at finite temperatures, highlighting the role of spin-changing collisions in coherence buildup.

Findings

Atoms in m_F=+1 and m_F=-1 rotate oppositely, breaking chiral symmetry.

Periodic loss and recovery of mutual coherence between spin components.

Strong spin-changing collisions lead to enhanced coherence among multiple components.

Abstract

We consider a spinor condensate of 87Rb atoms in its F=1 hyperfine state at finite temperatures. Putting initially all atoms in m_F=0 component we find that the system evolves into the state of thermal equilibrium. This state is approached in a step-like process and when established it manifests itself in distinguishable ways. The atoms in states m_F=+1 and m_F=-1 start to rotate in opposite directions breaking the chiral symmetry and showing highly regular spin textures. Also the coherence properties of the system changes dramatically. Depending on the strength of spin-changing collisions the system first enters the stage where the m_F=+1 and m_F=-1 spinor condensate components periodically loose and recover their mutual coherence whereas their thermal counterparts get completely dephased. For stronger spin changing collisions the system enters the regime where also the strong coherence between other components is built up.