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Layering and superfluidity of soft-core bosons in shallow spherical traps

Fabio Cinti1,2,*, Matteo Ciardi3,†, Santi Prestipino4,‡, and Giuseppe Pellicane5,6,7,§

  • *Contact author: fabio.cinti@unifi.it
  • †Contact author: matteo.ciardi@tuwien.ac.at
  • ‡Contact author: sprestipino@unime.it
  • §Contact author: giuseppe.pellicane@unime.it
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Phys. Rev. A 114, 013313 – Published 14 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gnwt-rm3m

Abstract

Fundamental theories and models of many-body physics can be probed in experiments on ultracold atoms held in place by electromagnetic fields. In particular, of considerable interest are systems under curved confinement, since they can yield exotic states of matter which would be impossible to obtain in flat space. In this study we focus on relatively small samples, where curvature effects are stronger, and analyze by Monte Carlo simulations the peculiar structure arising in an assembly of soft-core bosons subject to a weak trapping potential with spherical symmetry. Upon suitable tuning of the parameters, 100 particles or so group together in clusters arranged in a shell with icosahedral symmetry. As the number of particles increases, a second shell gradually develops, concentric to (and partly overlapping with) the original one, where clusters are in perfect registry with the first shell, thus forming a dodecahedral pattern. Cluster arrangements with the symmetry of other polyhedra are seen for different sets of parameters. At low temperature the superfluid density is nonuniform in the radial direction; heating the system progressively, superfluidity eventually vanishes while still clusters are present, a behavior resembling the transition from supersolid to normal solid on a plane. Two shells of clusters are also observed in systems of classical or distinguishable quantum particles, but in those cases the shells are more fragile to thermal fluctuations.

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Phys. Rev. A 114, 013313– Published 14 July, 2026
  • Received 4 March 2026
  • Accepted 24 June 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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