Black-hole radiation in Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We study the phonon fluxes emitted when the condensate velocity crosses the speed of sound, i.e., in backgrounds which are analogous to that of a black hole. We focus on elongated one-dimensional condensates and on stationary flows. Our theoretical analysis and numerical results are based on the Bogoliubov–de Gennes equation without further approximation. The spectral properties of the fluxes and of the long distance density-density correlations are obtained, both with and without an initial temperature. In realistic conditions, we show that the condensate temperature dominates the fluxes and thus hides the presence of the spontaneous emission (the Hawking effect). We also explain why the temperature amplifies the long distance correlations which are intrinsic to this effect. This confirms that the correlation pattern offers a neat signature of the Hawking effect. Optimal conditions for observing the pattern are discussed, as well as correlation patterns associated with scattering of classical waves. Flows associated with white holes are also considered.