Abstract
We report on experiments and simulations of the growth of a Bose-Einstein condensate in which vortices are observed to form spontaneously in a non-rotating potential. Between 10% and 50% of experiments result in between one and three unambiguous vortex cores. We simulate a temperature quench of a Bose gas through the critical point using the stochastic Gross-Pitaevskii equation and find remarkable agreement with the experimental data. Faster cooling results in a higher probability of vortex formation, and we interpret these results in light of the Kibble-Zurek scenario for the formation of topological defects in continuous phase transitions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Optics InfoBase Conference Papers |
State | Published - 2007 |
Event | Quantum-Atom Optics Downunder, QAO 2007 - Wollongong, Australia Duration: Dec 3 2007 → Dec 3 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Instrumentation
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics