Two-fluid theory for a superfluid system with anisotropic effective masses

Abstract

In this work, we generalize the two-fluid theory to a superfluid system with anisotropic effective masses along different principal axis directions. As a specific example, such a theory can be applied to spin-orbit coupled Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) at low temperature. The normal density from phonon excitations and the second sound velocity are obtained analytically. Near the phase transition from the plane wave to zero-momentum phases, due to the effective mass divergence, the normal density from phonon excitation increases greatly, while the second sound velocity is suppressed significantly. With quantum hydrodynamic formalism, we give unified derivations for suppressed superfluid density and Josephson relation. At last, the momentum distribution function and fluctuation of phase for the long wave length are also discussed.