Quantum Phase Transitions and Continuous Observation of Spinor Dynamics in an Antiferromagnetic Condensate

Published

March 23, 2009

Author(s)

Yingmei Liu, Sebastian Jung, Stephen E. Maxwell, Lincoln Turner, Eite Tiesinga, Paul D. Lett

Abstract

Spinor Bose-Einstein condensates of F=1 sodium atoms display interesting spin population dynamics due to the antiferromagnetic nature of the interactions in this system. We use Faraday rotation spectroscopy, a minimally destructive technique, to continuously monitor the short-time dynamics and extract a sharp signature of a magnetically tuned transition which depends on net magnetization. In steady state we are also able to observe a sharp phase transition from a two- to a three-component condensate at low but finite temperature using a Stern-Gerlach method. This transition should be preserved as a zero-temperature quantum phase transition.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

102

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

antiferromagnetic spinor BEC, Faraday rotation spectroscopy, ground state phase transitions, magnetic tuned transition, spin population dynamics

Citation

Liu, Y. , Jung, S. , Maxwell, S. , Turner, L. , Tiesinga, E. and Lett, P. (2009), Quantum Phase Transitions and Continuous Observation of Spinor Dynamics in an Antiferromagnetic Condensate, Physical Review Letters (Accessed October 10, 2025)