Light-induced torque for the generation of persistent current flow in atomic gas Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We show that a persistent current flow in an atomic gas Bose-Einstein condensate could be realized when the system is subject to two counterpropagating Laguerre-Gaussian so-called doughnut beams, creating a toroidal trap. The theory is developed involving a two-photon process within three atomic levels leading to a quantized light-induced torque which rotates the atoms, generating an atomic current flow in the ring. We also show that it is possible for the torque to be controlled and even switched on and off by varying the frequencies of the incident light, thereby allowing a mechanism for the control of the current flow.