Rabi oscillations with close-range quantum vortex states

Quantum vortices separated through distances much larger than their core size interact via their long-range velocity field. At smaller separations, however, the influence of the core’s compressibility strongly influences the vortex dynamics. Using the example of a compact ring of five vortices, it is shown that close-range effects lead to a new (slower) state of orbital motion which is not predicted by the usual long-range theory. This secondary state can be created starting from the usual orbital state by modulating the interaction strength to induce Rabi oscillations between the states.