Use of surface-wave spectroscopy to characterize tilt modes of a vortex in a Bose-Einstein condensate

A vortex in a condensate in a nonspherical trapping potential will in general experience a torque. The torque will induce tilting of the direction of the vortex axis. We observe this behavior experimentally and show that by applying small distortions to the trapping potential, we can control the tilting behavior. By suppressing vortex tilt, we have been able to hold the vortex axis along the line of sight for up to 15 sec. Alternatively, we can induce a 180 degrees tilt, effectively reversing the charge on the vortex as observed in the lab frame. We characterize the vortex nondestructively with a surface-wave spectroscopic technique.     

Vortex-lattice dynamics in rotating spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

We observe interlaced square vortex lattices in rotating dilute-gas spinor Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC). After preparing a hexagonal vortex lattice in a one-component BEC in an internal atomic state |1, we coherently transfer a fraction of the superfluid to a different state |2. The subsequent evolution of this pseudo-spin-1/2 superfluid towards a state of offset square lattices involves an intriguing interplay of phase-separation and -mixing dynamics, both macroscopically and on the length scale of the vortex cores, and a stage of vortex turbulence. The stability of the square structure is proved by its response to applied shear perturbations. An interference technique shows the spatial offset between the two vortex lattices. Vortex cores in either component are filled by fluid of the other component, such that the spin-1/2 order parameter forms a Skyrmion lattice.     

Pressure dependence of peroxynitrite reactions. Support for a radical mechanism

Activation volumes (delta V++) have been determined for several reactions of peroxynitrite using the stopped-flow technique. Spontaneous decomposition of ONOOH to NO3- in 0.15 M phosphate, pH 4.5, gave delta V++ = 6.0 +/- 0.7 and 14 +/- 1.0 cm3 mol-1 in the presence of 53 microM and 5 mM nitrite ion, respectively. One-electron oxidations of Mo(CN)8(4-) and Fe(CN)6(4-), which are first order in peroxynitrite and zero order in metal complex, gave delta V++ = 10 +/- 1 and 11 +/- 1 cm3 mol-1, respectively, at pH 7.2. The limiting yields of oxidized metal complex were found to decrease from 61 to 30% of the initially added peroxynitrite for Mo(CN)8(3-) and from 78 to 47% for Fe(CN)6(3-) when the pressure was increased from 0.1 to 140 MPa. The bimolecular reaction between CO2 and ONOO- was determined by monitoring the oxidation of Fe(CN)6(4-) by peroxynitrite in bicarbonate-containing 0.15 M phosphate, pH 7.2, for which delta V++ = -22 +/- 4 cm3 mol-1. The Fe(CN)6(3-) yield decreased by approximately 20% upon increasing the pressure from atmospheric to 80 MPa. Oxidation of Ni(cyclam)2+ by peroxynitrite, which is first order in each reactant, was characterized by delta V++ = -7.1 +/- 2 cm3 mol-1, and the thermal activation parameters delta H++ = 4.2 +/- 0.1 kcal mol-1 and delta S++ = -24 +/- 1 cal mol-1 K-1 in 0.15 M phosphate, pH 7.2. These results are discussed within the context of the radical cage hypothesis for peroxynitrite reactivity.