Topological Constraints on the Dynamics of Vortex Formation in a Two-Dimensional Quantum Fluid
T. Congy, Pierre Azam, Robin Kaiser, Nicolas Pavloff
Abstract
We present experimental and theoretical results on formation of quantum vortices in a laser beam propagating in a nonlinear medium. Topological constrains richer than the mere conservation of vorticity impose an elaborate dynamical behavior to the formation and annihilation of vortex-antivortex pairs. We identify two such mechanisms, both described by the same fold-Hopf bifurcation. One of them is particularly efficient although it is not observed in the context of liquid helium films or stationary systems because it relies on the compressible nature of the fluid of light we consider and on the nonstationarity of its flow.
Topics & Concepts
Quantum fluidVortexPhysicsVorticityAnnihilationQuantumTopological defectBifurcationContext (archaeology)Hopf bifurcationFluid dynamicsClassical mechanicsNonlinear systemFlow (mathematics)Topology (electrical circuits)Quantum mechanicsMechanicsMathematicsPaleontologyCombinatoricsBiologyStrong Light-Matter InteractionsQuantum, superfluid, helium dynamicsCold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates