2023/11/27 by Toni Annala, Tommi Mikkonen, Annala, Toni +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #Optics (physics.optics) #Quantum Gases (cond-mat.quant-gas) #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Strong Light-Matter Interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2311.15972
openalex publication_date 2023/11/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
We propose, and theoretically analyze, a practical protocol for the creation of topological monopole configurations, quantum knots, and skyrmions in Bose--Einstein condensates by employing fictitious magnetic fields induced by the interaction of the atomic cloud with coherent light fields. It is observed that a single coherent field is not enough for this purpose, but instead we find incoherent superpositions of several coherent fields that introduce topological point charges. We numerically estimate the experimentally achievable strengths and gradients of the induced fictitious magnetic fields and find them to be adjustable at will to several orders of magnitude greater than those of the physical magnetic fields employed in previous experimental studies. This property together with ultrafast control of the optical fields paves the way for advanced engineering of topological defects in quantum gases.