Observation of vortex phase singularities in Bose-Einstein condensates.
We have observed phase singularities due to vortex excitation in Bose-Einstein condensates. Vortices were created by moving a laser beam through a condensate. They were observed as dislocations in the interference fringes formed by the stirred condensate and a second unperturbed condensate. The velocity dependence for vortex excitation and the time scale for re-establishing a uniform phase across the condensate were determined.
Inouye
S
S
Department of Physics, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Gupta
S
S
Rosenband
T
T
Chikkatur
A P
AP
Görlitz
A
A
Gustavson
T L
TL
Leanhardt
A E
AE
Pritchard
D E
DE
Ketterle
W
W