Naslov
Modulation instability in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a synthetic magnetic field: Gauge matters

Autori
Lelas, Karlo ; Čelan, Ozana ; Prelogović, David ; Buljan, Hrvoje ; Jukić, Dario

Izvornik
Physical Review A (2469-9926) 103 (2021), 013309; 013309, 9

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
modulation instability ; nonlinear Schrödinger equation ; gauge ; vector potential ; synthetic magnetic field
(modulacijska nestabilnost ; nelinearna Schrödingerova jednadžba ; baždarenje ; vektorski potencijal ; sintetsko magnetsko polje)

Sažetak
We theoretically investigate the phenomenon of modulation instability for systems obeying the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which are under the influence of an external homogeneous synthetic magnetic field. For an initial condition, the instability is detected numerically by comparing dynamics with and without a small initial perturbation ; the perturbations are characterized in a standard fashion by wave vectors in momentum space. We demonstrate that the region of (in)stability in momentum space, as well as time evolution in real space, for identical initial conditions, depend on the choice of the gauge (i.e., vector potential) used to describe the homogeneous synthetic magnetic field. This superficially appears as if the gauge invariance is broken, but this is not true. When the system is evolved from an identical initial condition in two different gauges, it is equivalent to suddenly turning on the synthetic magnetic field at t=0. This gives rise, via Faraday's law, to an initial instantaneous kick of a synthetic electric field to the wave packet, which can differ for gauges yielding an identical uniform magnetic field for t>0.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika

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