English

Casimir-like force arising from quantum fluctuations in a slow-moving dilute Bose-Einstein condensate

Other Condensed Matter 2009-11-11 v3 Statistical Mechanics Quantum Physics

Abstract

We calculate a force due to zero-temperature quantum fluctuations on a stationary object in a moving superfluid flow. We model the object by a localized potential varying only in the flow direction and model the flow by a three-dimensional weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate at zero temperature. We show that this force exists for any arbitrarily small flow velocity and discuss the implications for the stability of superfluid flow.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0503706,
  title  = {Casimir-like force arising from quantum fluctuations in a slow-moving dilute Bose-Einstein condensate},
  author = {D. C. Roberts and Y. Pomeau},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0503706},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

v3: revised discussion of toroidal geometry; replotted figure; minor editorial changes; quantitative and qualitative conclusions remain unchanged