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arXiv:cond-mat/9910185 · Physical Review A

Coupled-mode theory for Bose-Einstein condensates

Elena A. Ostrovskaya, Yuri S. Kivshar, M. Lisak, Björn Hall, Federica Cattani, Dan Anderson

Published Feb 7, 2000• 184 citations
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Abstract

We apply the concepts of nonlinear guided-wave optics to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in an external potential. As an example, we consider a parabolic double-well potential and derive coupled-mode equations for the complex amplitudes of the BEC macroscopic collective modes. Our equations describe different regimes of the condensate dynamics, including the nonlinear Josephson effect for any separation between the wells. We demonstrate macroscopic self-trapping for both repulsive and attractive interactions, and confirm our results by direct numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii-equation.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.61.031601

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We apply the concepts of nonlinear guided-wave optics to a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) trapped in an external potential. As an example, we consider a parabolic double-well potential and derive coupled-mode equations for the complex amplitudes of the BEC macroscopic collective modes. Our equations describe different regimes of the condensate dynamics, including the nonlinear Josephson effect for any separation between the wells. We demonstrate macroscopic self-trapping for both repulsive and attractive interactions, and confirm our results by direct numerical solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii-equation.
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We study the coherent atomic tunneling between two zero-temperature Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) confined in a double-well magnetic trap. Two Gross-Pitaevskii equations for the self-interacting BEC amplitudes, coupled by a transfer matrix element, describe the dynamics in terms of the interwell phase difference and population imbalance. In addition to the anharmonic generalization of the familiar ac Josephson effect and plasma oscillations occurring in superconductor junctions, the nonlinear BEC tunneling dynamics sustains a self-maintained population imbalance: a novel ``macroscopic quantum self-trapping'' effect.
The dynamics of weakly interacting three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), trapped in external axially symmetric plus anharmonic distortion potential are studied. Within a variational approach and time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation, the coupled condensate width equations are derived. By modulating anharmonic distortion of the trapping potential, nonlinear features are studied numerically and illustrated analytically, such as mode coupling of oscillation modes, and resonances. Furthermore, the stability of attractive interaction BEC in both repulsive and attractive anharmonic distortion is examined. We demonstrate that a small repulsive and attractive anharmonic distortion is effective in reducing (extending) the condensate stability region since it decreases (increases) the critical number of atoms in the trapping potential.
The nonlinear dynamics of quantum droplets in a quasi-one-dimensional BEC loaded in a two-core trap potential are investigated. The cases of standing and moving quantum droplets are considered. The frequencies of the Josephson oscillations and the condition for self-trapping are found. An analytical description is based on the variational approach to a system of coupled extended Gross-Pitaevskii (EGP) equations, including Lee-Huang-Yang correction terms. In the case of moving droplets, the system of equations describing the coupling of the relative motion of droplets in two cores with the dynamics of the relative phase and population imbalance (Josephson currents) is derived. Different regimes of droplet dynamics are found, including attraction and repulsion in dependence on the relative phase evolution. These phenomena are the realization of the Andreev-Bashkin effect for superfluids in a two-core trap potential. Analytical predictions of the model are confirmed by full numerical simulations of the coupled extended Gross-Pitaevskii equations.