Transdimensional quantum droplets in an optically trapped Bose mixture

Abstract

We study quantum droplets in a symmetric two-component Bose mixture with interspecies $p$-wave interactions and a two-dimensional transverse optical lattice. The lattice drives a crossover from an anisotropic three-dimensional gas to weakly coupled one-dimensional tubes. We calculate the ground-state energy and quantum depletion at the Gaussian level and derive their limiting forms. At $y=g_{12}/g=-0.95$, where the bare mean field is repulsive and no free-space droplet exists, the calculated bulk equation of state supports a self-bound minimum across the crossover: a negative lattice contribution at order $n^{2}$ supplies the attraction in the three-dimensional regime, and attractive fluctuations do so in the quasi-one-dimensional regime, with the intermediate, transdimensional range described quantitatively by neither limit. The interspecies $p$-wave interaction modifies only the spin branch. In the parameter range studied, increasing its strength lowers the equilibrium density across the crossover, consistently with a weakening of the induced binding.