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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
When a charged particle moves in an electromagnetic(em) eld, it experiences a velocity-dependent force, called the Lorentz force, ~F = q(~v ~B ). A similar kind of situation can be created for a system of ultracold neutral atoms in a magnetic trap, eventhough they are chargeless, by rotating the system. Recently, Lin et al., [Nature 462, 628 (2009)] created an optically controlled magnetic eld in which ultracold neutral atoms experience an e ective gauge potential like a charge particle does in an em- eld, without any rotation of the system. We have theoretically studied the vortex states in a two-component Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) in a toroidal trap and obtained a condition where a quantization event occurs. Starting from the concept of a two-component pseudospin-1/2 BEC and the creation of an e ective gauge potential in ultracold neutral atoms, I will present our current work on vortex quantization in a two-component toroidal BEC.