Target–BEC pairs atomtronic rotation sensor

We describe an idea for an atomtronic rotation sensor consisting of a rectangular array of pairs of target–Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). A target BEC is a condensate confined in the "target” trap which is a 2D channel potential consisting of a central well surrounded by a ring–shaped channel. A condensate formed in such a potential will have a central disk condensate inside of a concentric ring–shaped condensate. We assume that the rest frame of the target–BEC–pair array is rotating at some speed, Ω_R , with respect to a frame at rest with respect to the “fixed stars”. The purpose of the sensor described here is to measure Ω_R .  We show that a single target-pair BEC having circulation in one of the rings will undergo circulation transfer when a barrier potential is turned on where the rings overlap.  If Ω_R > Ω_c , where Ω_c is some rotating-frame speed threshold, and that no transfer occurs if Ω_R < Ω_c. It is also the case that Ω_c depends on U_b,max , the maximum barrier strength.  Thus an array of such target-pair BECs, where barriers of different maximum strengths are applied, can bound the value of Ω_R .  We have simulated such a system for different rotation speeds and locations of the array relative to the location of the rotation axis.  We will discuss the potential perfomance of such systems and the possible ranges of Ω_R that could be measured.