Abstract
We present a theory of hysteretic phenomena in Bose gases, using superfluidity in one-dimensional rings and in optical lattices as primary examples. Through this study we are able to give a physical interpretation of swallow-tail loops recently found by many authors in the mean-field energy structure of trapped atomic gases. These loops are a generic sign of hysteresis, and in the present context are an indication of superfluidity. We have also calculated the rate of decay of metastable current-carrying states due to quantum fluctuations.
- Received 2 September 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.66.063603
©2002 American Physical Society