Superfluidity versus disorder in the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation
Year: 2002
Authors: Trombettoni A., Smerzi A., Bishop A.R.
Autors Affiliation: Los Alamos Natl Lab, Div Theoret, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA; Los Alamos Natl Lab, Ctr Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA; Ist Nazl Fis Mat, I-34014 Trieste, Italy; Scuola Int Super Studi Avanzati, I-34014 Trieste, Italy.
Abstract: We study the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation (DNLS) in an annular geometry with on-site defects. The dynamics of a traveling plane-wave maps onto an effective nonrigid pendulum Hamiltonian. The different regimes include the complete reflection and refocusing of the initial wave, solitonic structures, and a superfluid state. In the superfluid regime, which occurs above a critical value of nonlinearity, a plane wave travels coherently through the randomly distributed defects. This superfluidity criterion for the DNLS is analogous to (yet very different from) the Landau superfluidity criteria in translationally invariant systems. Experimental implications for the physics of Bose-Einstein condensate gases trapped in optical potentials and of arrays of optical fibers are discussed.
Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
Volume: 88 (17) Pages from: 173902-1 to: 173902-4
KeyWords: Wave-guide Arrays; Oscillations; SolitonsDOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.173902Citations: 25data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-10-20References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)