Spinor Bose-Einstein condensates of positronium

Yi-Hsieh Wang (汪以謝), Brandon M. Anderson, and Charles W. Clark
Phys. Rev. A 89, 043624 – Published 28 April 2014

Abstract

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of positronium (Ps) have been of experimental and theoretical interest due to their potential application as the gain medium of a γ-ray laser. Ps BECs are intrinsically spinor due to the presence of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) and para-positronium (p-Ps), whose annihilation lifetimes differ by three orders of magnitude. In this paper, we study the spinor dynamics and annihilation processes in the p-Ps/o-Ps system using both solutions of the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equations and a semiclassical rate-equation approach. The spinor interactions have an O(4) symmetry which is broken to SO(3) by an internal energy difference between o-Ps and p-Ps. For an initially unpolarized condensate, there is a threshold density of 1019 cm3 at which spin mixing between o-Ps and p-Ps occurs. Beyond this threshold, there are unstable spatial modes accompanied by spin mixing. To ensure a high production yield above the critical density, a careful choice of external field must be made to avoid the spin mixing instability.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
2 More
  • Received 21 February 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.89.043624

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Yi-Hsieh Wang (汪以謝), Brandon M. Anderson, and Charles W. Clark

  • Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 89, Iss. 4 — April 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×