Magnetic phases of spin-1 spin-orbit-coupled Bose gases.
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ABSTRACT: Phases of matter are characterized by order parameters describing the type and degree of order in a system. Here we experimentally explore the magnetic phases present in a near-zero temperature spin-1 spin-orbit-coupled atomic Bose gas and the quantum phase transitions between these phases. We observe ferromagnetic and unpolarized phases, which are stabilized by spin-orbit coupling's explicit locking between spin and motion. These phases are separated by a critical curve containing both first- and second-order transitions joined at a tricritical point. The first-order transition, with observed width as small as h × 4 Hz, gives rise to long-lived metastable states. These measurements are all in agreement with theory.
SUBMITTER: Campbell DL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4820996 | biostudies-other | 2016
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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