Dynamical Instability and Domain Formation in a Spin-1 Bose-Einstein Condensate
Dynamical Instability and Domain Formation in a Spin-1 Bose-Einstein Condensate
We interpret the recently observed spatial domain formation in spin-1 atomic condensates as a result of dynamical instability. Within the mean field theory, a homogeneous condensate is dynamically unstable (stable) for ferromagnetic (antiferromagnetic) atomic interactions. We find that this dynamical instability naturally leads to spontaneous domain formation as observed in …