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arXiv · 2503.23246

Breaking a superfluid harmonic dam: Observation and theory of Riemann invariants and accelerating sonic horizons

Shashwat Sharan·Judith Gonzalez Sorribes·Patrick Sprenger·Mark A. Hoefer·P. Engels·Boaz Ilan·M. E. Mossman
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Abstract

An experimental and theoretical study of sonic horizons emerging from the dam-break problem in a Bose-Einstein condensate confined in an anisotropic harmonic trap is presented. Measurements, analysis, and numerics reveal the formation of a sonic horizon that undergoes acceleration due to harmonic confinement. The superfluid is characterized using a robust measurement technique to determine Riemann invariants. Experimental observations agree with an analytical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and computations. The collision and annihilation between two sonic horizons at long times is predicted.

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Shashwat Sharan, Judith Gonzalez Sorribes, Patrick Sprenger, Mark A. Hoefer, P. Engels, Boaz Ilan, M. E. Mossman. 2025-03-29. Breaking a superfluid harmonic dam: Observation and theory of Riemann invariants and accelerating sonic horizons. https://doi.org/10.1103/38f7-ym2v

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