• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Driving Phase Slips in a Superfluid Atom Circuit with a Rotating Weak Link

K. C. Wright, R. B. Blakestad, C. J. Lobb, W. D. Phillips, and G. K. Campbell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 025302 – Published 10 January 2013
Physics logo See Synopsis: Navigating with Cold Atoms
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We have observed well-defined phase slips between quantized persistent current states around a toroidal atomic (Na23) Bose-Einstein condensate. These phase slips are induced by a weak link (a localized region of reduced superfluid density) rotated slowly around the ring. This is analogous to the behavior of a superconducting loop with a weak link in the presence of an external magnetic field. When the weak link is rotated more rapidly, well-defined phase slips no longer occur, and vortices enter into the bulk of the condensate. A noteworthy feature of this system is the ability to dynamically vary the current-phase relation of the weak link, a feature which is difficult to implement in superconducting or superfluid helium circuits.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 14 August 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.025302

© 2013 American Physical Society

Synopsis

Key Image

Navigating with Cold Atoms

Published 10 January 2013

A torus of trapped cold atoms could be used as a rotation sensor.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

K. C. Wright*, R. B. Blakestad, C. J. Lobb, W. D. Phillips, and G. K. Campbell

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

  • *Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College, NH 03755, USA.
  • Present address: Booz Allen Hamilton, Arlington, VA 22203, USA.
  • Also at the Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 110, Iss. 2 — 11 January 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×