Vortex Lattice Dynamics in a Dilute Gas BEC

We study the dynamics of large vortex lattices in a dilute gas Bose–Einstein condensate. Rapidly rotating condensates are created that contain vortex lattices with up to 300 vortices. The condensates are held in a parabolic trapping potential, and rotation rates exceeding 99% of the radial trapping frequency are achieved. By locally suppressing the density while maintaining the phase singularities, we create vortex aggregates. To illustrate the underlying Coriolis force driven dynamics, oscillation frequencies of the vortex aggregate area are measured. A related technique also enables us to excite and directly image Tkachenko modes in a vortex lattice. These modes provide evidence for the shear strength that a vortex lattice in a superfluid can support.