Abstract
As topologically stable objects in field theories, knots have been put forward to explain various persistent phenomena in systems ranging from atoms and molecules to cosmic textures in the universe. Recent experiments have reported the observation of knots in different classical contexts. However, no experimental observation of knots has yet been reported in quantum matter. Here we demonstrate the experimental creation and detection of knot solitons in the order parameter of a spinor Bose-Einstein condensate. The observed texture corresponds to a topologically nontrivial element of the third homotopy group and exhibits the celebrated Hopf fibration, which unites many seemingly unrelated physical phenomena. Our work calls for future studies of the stability and dynamics knot solitons in the quantum regime.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 478–483 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nature Physics |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2016 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATE
- CLASSICAL FIELD-THEORY
- VORTEX KNOTS
- VORTICES
- SOLITONS
- MONOPOLES