Macroscopic Efimov effect of quantized vortex

Abstract

The three-body problem, from the chaotic motions of celestial bodies to complex microscopic particle interactions, has always been one of the most foundational yet intricate challenges in physics since its establishment. A key breakthrough in this domain is the Efimov effect, which represents a significant stride in what is now known as Efimov physics. Our study uncovers a macroscopic Efimov effect in a three-component Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) system. Through theoretical analysis and numerical simulation, it is verified that under certain conditions, three vortices form a bound state, while removing one vortex causes the others to unbind, demonstrating topological characteristics similar to the Borromean rings, hence termed the `vortex Efimov effect', signifying a novel topological phase transition. We propose several experimental approaches to realize this macroscopic Efimov effect, paving new paths not only in many-body physics but also in exploring quantum phase transitions and applications in quantum information.