Torus quantum vortex knots in the Gross-Pitaevskii model for Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We examine on the static and dynamical properties of quantum knots in a Bose-Einstein condensate. In particular, we consider the Gross-Pitaevskii model and revise a technique to construct ab initio the condensate wave-function of a generic torus knot. After analysing its excitation energy, we study its dynamics relating the topological parameter to its translational velocity and characteristic size. We also investigate the breaking mechanisms of non shape-preserving torus knots confirming an evidence of universal decaying behaviour previously observed.