Bose-Einstein Condensation on the Surface of a Sphere

Year: 2019

Authors: Tononi A., Salasnich L.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Padua, Dipartimento Fis & Astron Galileo Galilei, Via Marzolo 8, I-35131 Padua, Italy; CNR, INO, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50125 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

Abstract: Motivated by the recent achievement of space-based Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) with ultracold alkali-metal atoms under microgravity and by the proposal of bubble traps which confine atoms on a thin shell, we investigate the BEC thermodynamics on the surface of a sphere. We determine analytically the critical temperature and the condensate fraction of a noninteracting Bose gas. Then we consider the inclusion of a zero-range interatomic potential, extending the noninteracting results at zero and finite temperature. Both in the noninteracting and interacting cases the crucial role of the finite radius of the sphere is emphasized, showing that in the limit of infinite radius one recovers the familiar two-dimensional results. We also investigate the Berezinski-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition driven by vortical configurations on the surface of the sphere, analyzing the interplay of condensation and superfluidity in this finite-size system.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 123 (16)      Pages from: 160403-1  to: 160403-7

KeyWords: QUANTUM-THEORY; VORTICES; GAS
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.160403

Citations: 51
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