Vortex formation in a stirred Bose-Einstein condensate

Authors
Madison, KW Chevy, F Wohlleben, W Dalibard, J
Citation
Kw. Madison et al., Vortex formation in a stirred Bose-Einstein condensate, PHYS REV L, 84(5), 2000, pp. 806-809
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
84
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
806 - 809
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20000131)84:5<806:VFIASB>2.0.ZU;2-4
Abstract
Using a focused laser beam we stir a Bose-Einstein condensate of Rb-87 conf ined in a magnetic trap and observe the formation of a vortex for a stirrin g frequency exceeding a critical value. At larger rotation frequencies we p roduce states of the condensate for which up to four vortices are simultane ously present. We have also measured the lifetime of the single vortex stat e after turning off the stirring laser beam.