Collapse of a macroscopic Bose-Einstein condensate

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the collapse of a macroscopic Bose-Einstein condensate, specifically focusing on the effects of local perturbations and how these perturbations may propagate in space and time. The conversation touches on both theoretical and experimental aspects of this phenomenon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about experimental results related to the propagation of collapse in a macroscopic Bose-Einstein condensate due to a point-like perturbation.
  • Another participant argues that a local perturbation in a macroscopic condensate cannot lead to a global collapse.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that local perturbations, such as heating, could lead to a global collapse over time, raising the question of how this collapse propagates.
  • There is a proposal that the Ginzburg-Landau equation might be useful for calculating the propagation of collapse, with a suggestion that similar problems have been considered by researchers like Abrikosov in the context of magnetic flux tubes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between local perturbations and global collapse, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of perturbations and their effects on the condensate, as well as references to specific theoretical frameworks that may not be universally accepted or fully explored.

tom.stoer
Science Advisor
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Consider a macroscopic Bose-Einstein condensate. Are there experimental results regarding the propagation (in space and time) of the collapse of this state caused by a point-like perturbation?
 
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I don't quite understand what you mean. If it is a macroscopic condensate, a local perturbation can never lead to a global collapse.
 
Perturbing (e.g. heating) the condensate locally for a longer time may collapse the state globally - but not instantaneously; how does the collapse propagate?
 
Probably you can calculate it using the Ginzburg-Landau equation. Suppose that Abrikosov and other russians have considered this as it seems to be similar to problems involving e.g. magnetic flux tubes.
 

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