Dynamics of the creation of a rotating Bose-Einstein condensate by two-photon Raman transition using Laguerre-Gaussian pulse

Abstract

We examine the dynamics associated with the creation of a vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), from another nonrotating BEC using two-photon Raman transition with Gaussian (G) and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) laser pulses. In particular, we consider BEC of Rb atoms at their hyperfine ground states confined in a quasi two dimensional harmonic trap. Optical dipole potentials created by G and LG laser pulses modify the harmonic trap in such a way that density profiles of the condensates during the Raman transition process depend on the sign of the generated vortex. We investigate the role played by the Raman coupling parameter manifested through dimensionless peak Rabi frequency and intercomponent interaction on the dynamics of the population transfer process and on the final population of the rotating condensate. During the Raman transition process, the two BECs tend to have larger overlap with each other for stronger intercomponent interaction strength.