Rotating Atomic Traps for Bosons and the Centrifuge Effect

Abstract

A rigorous time independent Hamiltonian for rotating atomic traps is discussed. The steady states carry a mass current and thereby an angular momentum. It is shown that the rotation positions the atoms away from the rotation axis (after taking both the time and quantum mechanical averages) as in a conventional centrifuge. Some assert that the rotation for Bose condensates cause the atoms to move towards the rotation axis; i.e. act oppositely to fluids in a centrifuge. The opposing physical pictures are reminiscent of the difference between the rotational motion views of Newton and Cassini.