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Title: Quantum tunneling of vortices in two-dimensional condensates

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Physics Department, Technion, Haifa 32000 (Israel)
  2. Department of Physics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)
  3. Physics Department, Okayama University, Okayama-700-8530 (Japan)

The tunneling rate t{sub v}/({Dirac_h}/2{pi}) of a vortex between two pinning sites (of strength V separated by d) is computed using the Bogoliubov expansion of vortex wave-functions overlap. For BCS vortices, tunneling is suppressed beyond a few Fermi wavelengths. For Bose condensates, t{sub v}=V exp(-{pi}n{sub s}d{sup 2}/2), where n{sub s} is the boson density. The analogy between vortex hopping in a superconducting film and two-dimensional electrons in a perpendicular magnetic field is exploited. We derive the variable range hopping temperature, below which vortex tunneling contributes to magnetoresistance. Using the 'quantum Hall insulator' analogy we argue that the Hall conductivity (rather than the inverse Hall resistivity) measures the effective carrier density in domains of mobile vortices. Details of vortex wave functions and overlap calculations, and a general derivation of the Magnus coefficient for any wave function on the sphere, are provided in appendixes.

OSTI ID:
20853495
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter and Materials Physics, Vol. 74, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.74.064511; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1098-0121
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English