Bose-Einstein condensate collapse: A comparison between theory and experiment

C. M. Savage, N. P. Robins, and J. J. Hope
Phys. Rev. A 67, 014304 – Published 28 January 2003
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Abstract

We solve the Gross-Pitaevskii equation numerically for the collapse induced by a switch from positive to negative scattering lengths. We compare our results with experiments performed with Bose-Einstein condensates of 85Rb, in which the scattering length was controlled using a Feshbach resonance. Building on previous theoretical work we identify quantitative differences between the predictions of mean-field theory and the results of the experiments. In addition to the previously reported difference between the predicted and observed critical atom number for collapse, we also find that the predicted collapse times systematically exceed those observed experimentally.

  • Received 5 July 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.014304

©2003 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

C. M. Savage*, N. P. Robins, and J. J. Hope

  • Department of Physics and Theoretical Physics, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia

  • *Electronic address: craig.savage@anu.edu.au

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Vol. 67, Iss. 1 — January 2003

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