Type of spiral wave with trapped ions.
Pattern formation in ultracold quantum systems has recently received a great deal of attention. In this work, we investigate a two-dimensional model system simulating the dynamics of trapped ions. We find a spiral wave that is rigidly rotating, but with a peculiar core region in which adjacent ions oscillate in antiphase. The formation of this spiral wave is ascribed to the excitability previously reported by Lee and Cross. The breakup of the spiral wave is probed and, especially, an extraordinary scenario of the disappearance of the spiral wave, caused by spontaneous expansion of the antiphase core, is unveiled.
School of Science, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing 100876, People's Republic of China.
Yuting
Y
Li
Haihong
H
Li
Yun
Y
Zhu
Mei
M
Zhang
Junzhong
J
Yang