Chaos-assisted formation of immiscible matter-wave solitons and self-stabilization in the binary discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation

Abstract

Binary discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation is used to describe dynamics of two-species Bose–Einstein condensate loaded into an optical lattice. Linear inter-species coupling leads to Rabi transitions between the species. In the regime of strong nonlinearity, a wavepacket corresponding to condensate separates into localized and ballistic fractions. Localized fraction is predominantly formed by immiscible solitons consisted of only one species. Immiscible solitons are formed from initially non-separated states after transient chaotic regime. We calculate the finite-time Lyapunov exponent as a rate of wavepacket divergence in the Hilbert space. Appearance of immiscible solitons to spontaneous self-stabilization of the wavepacket. It is found that onset of chaos is accompanied by fast variations of interaction energy and energy of inter-site tunneling. Crossover to self-stabilization is accompanied by reduction of condensate density due to emittance of ballistically propagating waves.