Rotation of a molecule in two-dimensional condensate: angulon properties and spontaneous vortex formation

Michał

Suchorowski

University of Warsaw

April 14, 2023 11:00 AM

In this study, we explore the behavior of a rotating molecular impurity in a two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate. Using a Gross-Pitaevskii-type equation, we investigate how the impurity-bath interaction and size of the condensate affect the angular momentum distribution, density deformation, and density currents in the system. In line with experimental results and angulon theory, we show that the impurity's effective moment of inertia is modified by its interaction with the quantum solvent, leading to a slowing down of its rotation for low angular momentum states. Additionally, we observe the emergence of collective excitations such as solitons and vortices in the system after rapid rotation of theimpurity. Our model provides insight into the behavior of impurities in two-dimensional quantum gases and can be seen as an effective description of a rotating molecule on the surface of a superfluid helium droplet.