Vortex coupler for atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

A coherent coupler is proposed to spin a Bose-Einstein condensate composed of ultracold alkali atoms into a vortex state (VS). The proposal is based on a Raman transition induced by two copropagating $σ^+$ and $σ^-$ polarized Laguerre-Gaussian laser beams with different frequencies. We show that the transfer of angular momentum of photons to the condensed atoms through a Raman transition leads to a coherent coupling of the ground-state condensate to a rotating condensate in a VS. The detection of such a VS is discussed.

4 Pages, Revtex, 4 Figures