Resonances in a trapped 3D Bose-Einstein condensate under periodically varying atomic scattering length

Nonlinear oscillations of a 3D radial symmetric Bose-Einstein condensate under periodic variation in time of the atomic scattering length have been studied. The time-dependent variational approach is used for the analysis of the characteristics of nonlinear resonances in the oscillations of the condensate. The bistability in oscillations of the BEC width is investigated. The dependence of the BEC collapse threshold on the drive amplitude and parameters of the condensate and trap is found. Predictions of the theory are confirmed by numerical simulations of the full Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Evolution of a collapsing and exploding Bose-Einstein condensate in different trap symmetries

Based on the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation we study the evolution of a collapsing and exploding Bose-Einstein condensate in different trap symmetries to see the effect of confinement on collapse and subsequent explosion, which can be verified in future experiments. We make a prediction for the evolution of the shape of the condensate and the number of atoms in it for different trap symmetries (cigar to pancake) as well as in the presence of an optical lattice potential. We also make a prediction for the jet formation in different cases when the collapse is suddenly terminated by changing the scattering length to zero via a Feshbach resonance. In addition to the usual global collapse to the center of the condensate, in the presence of an optical-lattice potential one could also have in certain cases independent collapse of parts of the condensate to local centers, which could be verified in experiments.

Numerical solution of the two-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation for trapped interacting atoms

We present a numerical scheme for solving the time-independent nonlinear Gross-Pitaevskii equation in two dimensions describing the Bose-Einstein condensate of trapped interacting neutral atoms at zero temperature. The trap potential is taken to be of the harmonic-oscillator type and the interaction both attractive and repulsive. The Gross-Pitaevskii equation is numerically integrated consistent with the correct boundary conditions at the origin and in the asymptotic region. Rapid convergence is obtained in all cases studied. In the attractive case there is a limit Co the maximum number of atoms in the condensate. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Stability of the trapped nonconservative Gross-Pitaevskii equation with attractive two-body interaction

The dynamics of a nonconservative Gross-Pitaevskii equation for trapped atomic systems with attractive two-body interaction is numerically investigated, considering wide variations of the nonconservative parameters, related to atomic feeding and dissipation. We study the possible limitations of the mean-field description for an atomic condensate with attractive two-body interaction, by defining the parameter regions, where stable or unstable formation can be found. The present study is useful and timely considering the possibility of large variations of attractive two-body scattering lengths, which may be feasible in recent experiments.

Gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates in linear and nonlinear optical lattices

Properties of localized states on array of BEC confined to a potential, representing superposition of linear and nonlinear optical lattices are investigated. For a shallow lattice case the coupled mode system has been derived. We revealed new types of gap solitons and studied their stability. For the first time a moving soliton solution has been found. Analytical predictions are confirmed by numerical simulations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with jointly acting linear and nonlinear periodic potentials. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of an impulsive force on vortices in a rotating Bose-Einstein condensate

The effects of a sudden increase and decrease of the interatomic interaction and harmonic-oscillator trapping potential on vortices in a quasi two-dimensional rotating Bose-Einstein condensate are investigated using the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We also study the decay of vortices when the rotation of the condensate is suddenly stopped. Upon a free expansion of a rotating BEC with vortices the radius of the vortex core increases more rapidly than the radius of the condensate. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Bose-Einstein condensates in 2D with time-periodic scattering length

We discuss two-dimensional Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) under time-periodic variation of the scattering length. In particular we argue that for high-frequency variation there exist stable self-confined condensates without an external trap, when the do component of the scattering length is negative. Our results are based on a variational approximation, on direct averaging of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and on numerical simulations.

Bose-Einstein condensation dynamics in three dimensions by the pseudospectral and finite-difference methods

We suggest a pseudospectral method for solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation, and use it to study the resonance dynamics of a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate induced by a periodic variation in the atomic scattering length. When the frequency of oscillation of the scattering length is an even multiple of one of the trapping frequencies along the x, y or z direction, the corresponding size of the condensate executes resonant oscillation. Using the concept of the differentiation matrix, the partial-differential GP equation is reduced to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations, which is solved by a fourth-order adaptive step-size control Runge-Kutta method. The pseudospectral method is contrasted with the finite-difference method for the same problem, where the time evolution is performed by the Crank-Nicholson algorithm. The latter method is illustrated to be more suitable for a three-dimensional standing-wave optical-lattice trapping potential.

Formation of soliton trains in Bose-Einstein condensates as a nonlinear Fresnel diffraction of matter waves

The problem of generation of atomic soliton trains in elongated Bose-Einstein condensates is considered in framework of Whitham theory of modulations of nonlinear waves. Complete analytical solution is presented for the case when the initial density distribution has sharp enough boundaries. In this case the process of soliton train formation can be viewed as a nonlinear Fresnel diffraction of matter waves. Theoretical predictions are compared with results of numerical simulations of one- and three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation and with experimental data on formation of Bose-Einstein bright solitons in cigar-shaped traps. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stabilization of bright solitons and vortex solitons in a trapless three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate by temporal modulation of the scattering length

Using variational and numerical solutions of the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation we show that a bright soliton can be stabilized in a trapless three-dimensional attractive Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) by a rapid periodic temporal modulation of scattering length alone by using a Feshbach resonance. This scheme also stabilizes a rotating vortex soliton in two dimensions. Apart from possible experimental application in BEC, the present study suggests that the spatiotemporal solitons of nonlinear optics in three dimensions can also be stabilized in a layered Kerr medium with sign-changing nonlinearity along the propagation direction.

Dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates in cigar-shaped traps

The Gross-Pitaevskii equation for a Bose-Einstein condensate confined in an elongated cigar-shaped trap is reduced to an effective system of nonlinear equations depending on only one space coordinate along the trap axis. The radial distribution of the condensate density and its radial velocity are approximated by Gaussian functions with real and imaginary exponents, respectively, with parameters depending on the axial coordinate and time. The effective one-dimensional system is applied to a description of the ground state of the condensate, to dark and bright solitons, to the sound and radial compression waves propagating in a dense condensate, and to weakly nonlinear waves in repulsive condensate. In the low-density limit our results reproduce the known formulas. In the high-density case our description of solitons goes beyond the standard approach based on the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. The dispersion relations for the sound and radial compression waves are obtained in a wide region of values of the condensate density. The Korteweg-de Vries equation for weakly nonlinear waves is derived and the existence of bright solitons on a constant background is predicted for a dense enough condensate with a repulsive interaction between the atoms.

Dynamical localization of matter-wave solitons in managed barrier potentials

The bright matter-wave soliton propagation through a barrier with a rapidly oscillating position is investigated. The averaged-over rapid oscillations Gross-Pitaevskii equation is derived, where the effective potential has the form of a finite well. Dynamical trapping and quantum tunneling of the soliton in the effective finite well are investigated. The analytical predictions for the effective soliton dynamics is confirmed by numerical simulations of the full Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Collapse of attractive Bose-Einstein condensed vortex states in a cylindrical trap

The quantized vortex states of a weakly interacting Bose-Einstein condensate of atoms with attractive interatomic interaction in an axially symmetric harmonic oscillator trap are investigated using the numerical solution of the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation obtained by the semi-implicit Crank-Nicholson method. The collapse of the condensate is studied in the presence of deformed traps with the larger frequency along either the radial or the axial direction. The critical number of atoms for collapse is calculated as a function of the vortex quantum number L. The critical number increases with increasing angular momentum L of the cortex state but tends to saturate for large L.

Bose-Einstein condensation dynamics from the numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation

We study certain stationary and time-evolution problems of trapped Bose-Einstein condensates using the numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii (GP) equation with both spherical and axial symmetries. We consider time-evolution problems initiated by suddenly changing the interatomic scattering length or harmonic trapping potential in a stationary condensate. These changes introduce oscillations in the condensate which are studied in detail. We use a time iterative split-step method for the solution of the time-dependent GP equation, where all nonlinear and linear non-derivative terms are treated separately from the time propagation with the kinetic energy terms. Even for an arbitrarily strong nonlinear term this leads to extremely accurate and stable results after millions of time iterations of the original equation.

Dynamical classical superfluid-insulator transition in a Bose-Einstein condensate on an optical lattice

We predict a dynamical: classical superfluid-insulator transition in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in combined optical and axially symmetrical harmonic potentials initiated by the periodic modulation of the radial trapping potential. The transition is marked by a loss of phase coherence in the BEC and a subsequent destruction of the interference pattern upon free:expansion. For a weak modulation of the radial potential the phase coherence is maintained. For a stronger modulation and a longer holding time in the modulated trap, the phase coherence is destroyed thus signalling a classical superfluid-insulator transition. The results are illustrated by a complete numerical solution of the axially symmetrical mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation for a repulsive BEC. Suggestions for future experimentation are-made.