Symmetric-Asymmetric transition in mixtures of Bose-Einstein condensates

Anatoly Svidzinsky, Siu-Tat Chui

Published 2002-11-06Version 1

We propose a new kind of quantum phase transition in phase separated mixtures of Bose-Einstein condensates. In this transition, the distribution of the two components changes from a symmetric to an asymmetric shape. We discuss the nature of the phase transition, the role of interface tension and the phase diagram. The symmetric to asymmetric transition is the simplest quantum phase transition that one can imagine. Careful study of this problem should provide us new insight into this burgeoning field of discovery.