Stationary States and Modulational Instability of Coupled Two-Component Bose–Einstein Condensates in a Ring Trap*

Abstract

Abstract We investigate modulational instability (MI) of a coupled two-component Bose–Einstein condensates in a rotating ring trap. The excitation spectrum and the MI condition of the system are presented analytically. We find that the coupling between the two components strongly modifies the MI condition, and the MI condition is phase-dependent. Furthermore, we discuss the effect of MI on both density excitation and spin excitation. If the inter- and intra-component interaction strengths are all equal, the MI causes density excitation but not spin excitation, and if the inter- and intra-component interaction strengths are different, the MI causes both density excitation and spin excitation. Our results provide a promising approach for controlling the stability and excitation of a rotating two-component Bose–Einstein condensates by modulating its coupling strength and interaction strength.