Quench Dynamics in a Trapped Bose-Einstein Condensate with Spin-Orbit Coupling

Abstract

We consider the phase transition dynamics of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate subject to Raman-type spin-orbit coupling (SOC). By tuning the coupling strength the condensate is taken through a second order phase transition into an immiscible phase. We observe the domain wall defects produced by a finite speed quench is described by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism (KZM), and quantify a power law behavior for the scaling of domain number and formation time with the quench speed.