Motion of an object through a dilute quantum fluid

Abstract

We simulate the motion of a massive object through a dilute Bose-Einstein condensate by numerical solution of the non-linear Schrödinger equation coupled to an equation of motion for the object. Under a constant applied force, the object accelerates up to a maximum velocity where a vortex ring is formed which slows the object down. If the applied force is less than a critical value, the object becomes trapped within the vortex core. We show that the motion can be described using the time-independent quantum states, and use these states to predict the conditions required for vortex scattering.