Using variational and numerical solutions of the mean-field Gross-Pitaevskii equation for attractive interaction (with cubic or Kerr nonlinearity) we show that a stable bound state can appear in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a localized exponentially-screened radially-symmetric harmonic potential well in two and three dimensions. We also consider an axially-symmetric configuration with zero axial trap and a exponentially-screened radial trap so that the resulting bound state can freely move along the axial direction like a soliton. The binding of the present states in shallow wells is mostly due to the nonlinear interaction with the trap playing a minor role. Hence these BEC states are more suitable to study the effect of the nonlinear force on the dynamics. We illustrate the highly nonlinear nature of breathing oscillation of these states. Such bound states could be created in BECs and studied in the laboratory with present knowhow.
The stability of an attractive Bose–Einstein condensate on a joint one-dimensional optical lattice and an axially symmetrical harmonic trap is studied using the numerical solution of the time-dependent mean-field Gross–Pitaevskii equation and the critical number of atoms for a stable condensate is calculated. We also calculate this critical number of atoms in a double-well potential which is always greater than that in an axially symmetrical harmonic trap. The critical number of atoms in an optical trap can be made smaller or larger than the corresponding number in the absence of the optical trap by moving a node of the optical lattice potential in the axial direction of the harmonic trap. This variation of the critical number of atoms can be observed experimentally and compared with the present calculations.