Work

Creation and Detection of Skyrmions in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

Year: 2009

Type: article

Abstract: We present the first experimental realization and characterization of two-dimensional Skyrmions and half-Skyrmions in a spin-2 Bose-Einstein condensate. The continuous rotation of the local spin of the Skyrmion through an angle of pi (and half-Skyrmion through an angle of pi/2) across the cloud is confirmed by the spatial distribution of the three spin states as parametrized by the bending angle of the l vector. The winding number w = (0,1,2) of the internal spin states comprising the Skyrmions is confirmed through matter-wave interference.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.250401

Authors: L. S. Leslie, A. Hansen, K. C. Wright, B. M. Deutsch, N. P. Bigelow

Institutions: University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Army Research Office

OpenAlex ID: W1972083461

FWCI: 3.785

Cites: 43

Cited by: 195

Related to: 9