Abstract
Long-lived coherent spin precession of 3He−B at low temperatures around 0.2𝑇c is a manifestation of Bose-Einstein condensation of spin-wave excitations or magnons in a magnetic trap which is formed by the order-parameter texture and can be manipulated experimentally. When the number of magnons increases, the orbital texture reorients under the influence of the spin-orbit interaction and the profile of the trap gradually changes from harmonic to a square well, with walls almost impenetrable to magnons. This is the first experimental example of Bose condensation in a box. By selective rf pumping the trap can be populated with a ground-state condensate or one at any of the excited energy levels. In the latter case the ground state is simultaneously populated by relaxation from the exited level, forming a system of two coexisting condensates.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 145303 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 108 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Apr 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |