Vortices in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

M. R. Matthews; B. P. Anderson; P. C. Haljan; D. S. Hall; C. E. Wieman; E. A. Cornell

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.2498

Vortices in a Bose-Einstein Condensate

M. R. Matthews, B. P. Anderson, P. C. Haljan, D. S. Hall, C. E. Wieman, and E. A. Cornell

Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2498 – Published 27 September 1999

Abstract

We have created vortices in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates. The vortex state was created through a coherent process involving the spatial and temporal control of interconversion between the two components. Using an interference technique, we map the phase of the vortex state to confirm that it possesses angular momentum. We can create vortices in either of the two components and have observed differences in the dynamics and stability.