Nonequilibrium superfluid flows

Project Level: Summer

Project Duration: 6 weeks

Hours of Engagement: 20-36

Project Description:

Superfluidity arises when an atomic gas is cooled using laser cooling and evaporative cooling to nanokelvin temperatures. Below a critical velocity they flow without viscosity. The UQ Bose-Einstein condensation laboratory works with these superfluids, and are interested how their nonequilibrium dynamics lead to persistent currents that never decay. The aim of this project is to make a connection between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics - looking for the signatures of classical trajectories in the quantum wave functions. This is potentially interesting for superfluids, as to some extent they behave as classical fluids. This would require adding the effects of particle interactions - an additional nonlinear term in the Schrodinger equation.

A brief introduction to the field can be found here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5468603/

Expected Outcomes:

Students will learn how to solve the linear and nonlinear Schrodinger equation computationally with sources and sinks. The results may influence the UQ experimental program on Bose-Einstein condensates. A successful project will lead to publishing a paper describing the model and its results.

Suitable for:

Self-motivated students interested in physics and/or mathematics who are interested in gaining experience in research in theoretical and computational quantum physics.

Contact for further information:

Professor Matthew Davis: mdavis@uq.edu.au

There are avenues for two different students to work on this project.