Spin correlation and Discrete symmetry in Spinor Bose-Einstein Condensates

We study spin correlations in Bose-Einstein condensates of spin 1 bosons with scatterings dominated by a total spin equal 2 channel. We show the low energy spin dynamics in the system can be mapped into an $o(n)$ nonlinear sigma model(NL$\sigma$M). $n=3$ at the zero magnetic field limit and $n=2$ in the presence of weak magnetic fields. In an ordered phase, the ground state has a hidden $Z_2$ symmetry and is degenerate under the group $[U(1)\times S^{n-1}]/Z_2$. We explore consequences of the hidden symmetry and propose some measurements to probe it.Comment: 4 pages; published version in Phys. Rev. Lett. vol 87, 080401-1(2001