Novel Transitions in S=1 Spinor Condensates and XY Ashkin-Teller Universality

ORAL

Abstract

We study spin-1 polar spinor condensates with magnetic anisotropy, in two spatial dimensions at finite temperatures. The topological binding of vorticity to nematic disclinations leads to a rich phase diagram, which is captured by a U(1) version of the Ashkin-Teller model. In particular, a ``cascaded'' Kosterlitz-Thouless critical point, with two diverging scales, is predicted. Numerical simulations are performed to check our picture.

*NSF-DMR 0506953 and Hellman Faculty Fund.

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Authors

  • Shailesh Chandrasekharan

    • Duke University

  • Daniel Poldolsky

    • University of Toronto

  • Ashvin Vishwanath

    • Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley; Material Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • University of California at Berkeley
    • University of California, Berkeley