Spin Structure and Critical Nucleation Frequency of Fractionalized Vortices in 2D Topologically Ordered Superfluids of Cold Atoms

ORAL

Abstract

We have studied spin structures of fluctuation-driven fractionalized vortices and topological spin order in 2D nematic superfluids of cold sodium atoms. Our Monte Carlo simulations suggest a softened $\pi$-spin disclination structure in a half-quantum vortex when spin correlations are short ranged; in addition, calculations indicate that a unique non-local topological spin order emerges simultaneously as cold atoms become a superfluid below a critical temperature. We have also estimated fluctuation-dependent critical frequencies for half-quantum vortex nucleation in rotating optical traps and discussed probing these excitations in experiments.

*This work is in part supported by the office of the Dean of Science, UBC, NSERC (Canada), Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and the A. P. Sloan foundation.

Authors

  • Junliang Song

    • University of British Columbia
  • Fei Zhou

    • University of British Columbia