Abstract
We consider the leading corrections to the Thomas-Fermi approach to the description of the properties of a magnetically trapped, Bose-condensed cloud of atoms. Simple analytical expressions are derived for the kinetic energy in terms of an effective cutoff length, which we calculate numerically by considering the one-dimensional problem for a linear-ramp potential. We also determine the lowest angular velocity at which it is energetically favorable for a vortex to enter the cloud. For large clouds, our results are in excellent agreement with available numerical calculations.
- Received 10 October 1996
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.55.2126
©1997 American Physical Society