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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1874-4182

AccessType

Open Access Dissertation

Document Type

dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Program

Physics

Year Degree Awarded

2023

Month Degree Awarded

September

First Advisor

Prof. David S. Hall

Subject Categories

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | Condensed Matter Physics

Abstract

Topological excitations are ubiquitous in nature, their charge being a naturally-quantized, conserved quantity that can exhibit particle-like behavior. Spinor Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are an exceptionally versatile system for the study and exploration of topological excitations. Between the spin-1 and spin-2 87Rb condensates there are seven possible broken-symmetry magnetic phases, with each one hosting unique opportunities for topological defects. We have created and observed several novel topological excitations in a spinor 87Rb BEC. In this dissertation I present and discuss three principal experimental findings: (1) The discovery of an Alice ring, or a half-quantum vortex ring, emerging from a monopole singularity in a nematic spin-1 BEC; (2) The first realization of a 't Hooft-Polyakov-type monopole in a nematic spin-2 BEC; and (3) The first realization of a knot in a nematic spin-2 BEC. This dissertation concludes with possible avenues for future research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7275/35973563

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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