Coherence properties of spinor condensates at finite temperatures

Abstract

We consider a spinor condensate of 87Rb atoms in its F=1 hyperfine state at finite temperatures. Putting initially all atoms in m_F=0 component we find that the system evolves into the state of thermal equilibrium. This state is approached in a step-like process and when established it manifests itself in distinguishable ways. The atoms in states m_F=+1 and m_F=-1 start to rotate in opposite directions breaking the chiral symmetry and showing highly regular spin textures. Also the coherence properties of the system changes dramatically. Depending on the strength of spin-changing collisions the system first enters the stage where the m_F=+1 and m_F=-1 spinor condensate components periodically loose and recover their mutual coherence whereas their thermal counterparts get completely dephased. For stronger spin changing collisions the system enters the regime where also the strong coherence between other components is built up.