Spin-orbit-coupled spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates confined in radially periodic potential*

We investigate the ground states of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) with spin-orbit coupling in a radially periodic potential by numerically solving the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations. In the radially periodic potential, we first demonstrate that spin-orbit-coupled antiferromagnetic BECs support a multiring petal phase. Polar-core vortex can be observed from phase profiles, which is manifested as circularly symmetric distribution. We further show that spin-orbit coupling can induce multiring soliton structure in ferromagnetic BECs. It is confirmed especially that the wave-function phase of the ring corresponding to uniform distribution satisfies the rotational symmetry, and the wave-function phase of the ring corresponding to partial splitting breaks the rotational symmetry. Adjusting the spin-orbit coupling strength can control the number of petal in antiferromagnetic BECs and the winding numbers of wave-function in ferromagnetic BECs. Finally, we discuss effects of spin-independent and spin-dependent interactions on the ground states.

Automated summary

By numerically solving the coupled Gross-Pitaevskii equations, this study investigates the ground states of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates with spin-orbit coupling in a radially periodic potential. It is found that spin-orbit coupling leads to different phase structures in Bose-Einstein condensates with different spin properties, and the strength of spin-orbit coupling can control the properties of the condensates.