Vortex-vortex interaction in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates

The vortex-vortex interaction in two-component Bose-Einstein condensates is shown to present characteristic effects not possible in single-component condensates. In particular, vortices in different components undergo separate, but concentric, orbits for both same and opposite circulation. In addition, contrary to the well-known behavior in single-component condensates, vortices with the same circulation created in the less dense component merge in the presence of dissipation, allowing for the creation of metastable vortices with more than one quantum of circulation.