Moment of Inertia and Superfluidity of a Trapped Bose Gas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the moment of inertia of a trapped Bose gas varies with temperature, revealing superfluid behavior associated with Bose-Einstein condensation and discussing the influence of interactions.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the temperature-dependent moment of inertia in a trapped Bose gas, highlighting deviations due to superfluidity and the effects of interactions.

Findings

Deviations from rigid body moment of inertia indicate superfluidity.

Significant deviations occur near the critical temperature $T_c$, especially in noninteracting gases.

Interactions modify the temperature dependence of the moment of inertia.

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the moment of inertia of a dilute Bose gas confined in a harmonic trap is determined. Deviations from the rigid value, due to the occurrence of Bose-Einstein condensation, reveal the superfluid behaviour of the system. In the noninteracting gas these deviations become important at temperatures of the order of $T_c N^{-1/12}$. The role of interactions is also discussed.