Collapse of a quantum vortex in an attractive two-dimensional Bose gas
Authors: S. Banerjee, K. Zhou, S. K. Tiwari, H. Tamura, R. Li, P. Kevrekidis, S. I. Mistakidis, V. Walther, and C.-L. Hung
Journal Ref: arXiv:2406.00863 (2024)
Abstract:
We experimentally and numerically study the collapse dynamics of a quantum vortex in a two-dimensional atomic superfluid following a fast interaction ramp from repulsion to attraction. We find the conditions and time scales for a superfluid vortex to radially converge into a quasi-stationary density profile, demonstrating the first spontaneous formation of a vortex soliton in an atomic Bose gas. We record an emergent universal dynamics of an azimuthal modulational instability, which amplifies initial density perturbations and leads to the eventual splitting of a vortex soliton or direct fragmentation of a superfluid into disordered, but roughly circular arrays of Townes soliton-like wavepackets. Our study sets the stage for exploring universal out-of-equilibrium dynamics of vortex quantum matter quenched to attractive interactions.