Phase slips and vortex dynamics in Josephson oscillations between Bose-Einstein condensates. (26th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abad, M.; Guilleumas, M.; Mayol, R.; Piazza, F.; Jezek, D. M.; Smerzi, A.
• Is Part Of: Europhysics letters. Volume 109:Number 4(2015:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2015-02-26
• Subjects: 03.75.Lm -- 03.75.Kk; Physics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/109/40005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0295-5075

Abstract

Abstract: We study the relation between Josephson dynamics and topological excitations in a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate confined in a double-well trap. We show that the phase slips responsible for the self-trapping regime are created by vortex rings entering and annihilating inside the weak-link region or created at the center of the barrier and expanding outside the system. Large amplitude oscillations just before the onset of self-trapping are also strictly connected with the dynamics of vortex rings at the edges of the inter-well barrier. Our results extend and analyze the dynamics of the vortex-induced phase slippages suggested a few decades ago in relation to the "ac" Josephson effect of superconducting and superfluid helium systems.