Supersonic optical tunnels for Bose-Einstein condensates
arXiv:cond-mat/0602108 · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/9/4/085
Abstract
We propose a method for the stabilisation of a stack of parallel vortex rings in a Bose-Einstein condensate. The method makes use of a hollow laser beam containing an optical vortex. Using realistic experimental parameters we demonstrate numerically that our method can stabilise up to 9 vortex rings. Furthermore we point out that the condensate flow through the tunnel formed by the core of the optical vortex can be made supersonic by inserting a laser-generated hump potential. We show that long-living immobile condensate solitons generated in the tunnel exhibit sonic horizons. Finally, we discuss prospects of using these solitons for analogue gravity experiments.
14 pages, 3 figures, published version