Two-dimensional discrete solitons in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates

We analyze the formation and dynamics of bright unstaggered solitons in the disk-shaped dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate, which features the interplay of contact (collisional) and long-range dipole-dipole (DD) interactions between atoms. The condensate is assumed to be trapped in a strong optical-lattice potential in the disk's plane, hence it may be approximated by a two-dimensional (2D) discrete model, which includes the on-site nonlinearity and cubic long-range (DD) interactions between sites of the lattice. We consider two such models, that differ by the form of the on-site nonlinearity, represented by the usual cubic term, or more accurate nonpolynomial one, derived from the underlying 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Similar results are obtained for both models. The analysis is focused on effects of the DD interaction on fundamental localized modes in the lattice (2D discrete solitons). The repulsive isotropic DD nonlinearity extends the existence and stability regions of the fundamental solitons. New families of on-site, inter-site and hybrid solitons, built on top of a finite background, are found as a result of the interplay of the isotropic repulsive DD interaction and attractive contact nonlinearity. By themselves, these solutions are unstable, but they evolve into robust breathers which exist on an oscillating background. In the presence of the repulsive contact interactions, fundamental localized modes exist if the DD interaction (attractive isotropic or anisotropic) is strong enough. They are stable in narrow regions close to the anticontinuum limit, while unstable solitons evolve into breathers. In the latter case, the presence of the background is immaterial

Deviation from one-dimensionality in stationary properties and collisional dynamics of matter-wave solitons

By means of analytical and numerical methods, we study how the residual three-dimensionality affects dynamics of solitons in an attractive Bose-Einstein condensate loaded into a cigar-shaped trap. Based on an effective 1D Gross-Pitaevskii equation that includes an additional quintic self-focusing term, generated by the tight transverse confinement, we find a family of exact one-soliton solutions and demonstrate stability of the entire family, despite the possibility of collapse in the 1D equation with the quintic self-focusing nonlinearity. Simulating collisions between two solitons in the same setting, we find a critical velocity, $V_{c}$, below which merger of identical in-phase solitons is observed. Dependence of $V_{c}$ on the strength of the transverse confinement and number of atoms in the solitons is predicted by means of the perturbation theory and investigated in direct simulations. Symmetry breaking in collisions of identical solitons with a nonzero phase difference is also shown in simulations and qualitatively explained by means of an analytical approximation.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Symbiotic gap and semi-gap solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates

Using the variational approximation and numerical simulations, we study one-dimensional gap solitons in a binary Bose-Einstein condensate trapped in an optical-lattice potential. We consider the case of inter-species repulsion, while the intra-species interaction may be either repulsive or attractive. Several types of gap solitons are found: symmetric or asymmetric; unsplit or split, if centers of the components coincide or separate; intra-gap (with both chemical potentials falling into a single bandgap) or inter-gap, otherwise. In the case of the intra-species attraction, a smooth transition takes place between solitons in the semi-infinite gap, the ones in the first finite bandgap, and semi-gap solitons (with one component in a bandgap and the other in the semi-infinite gap).Comment: 5 pages, 9 figure

Matter-wave 2D solitons in crossed linear and nonlinear optical lattices

It is demonstrated the existence of multidimensional matter-wave solitons in a crossed optical lattice (OL) with linear OL in the $x-$direction and nonlinear OL (NOL) in the $y-$direction, where the NOL can be generated by a periodic spatial modulation of the scattering length using an optically induced Feshbach resonance. In particular, we show that such crossed linear and nonlinear OL allows to stabilize two-dimensional (2D) solitons against decay or collapse for both attractive and repulsive interactions. The solutions for the soliton stability are investigated analytically, by using a multi-Gaussian variational approach (VA), with the Vakhitov-Kolokolov (VK) necessary criterion for stability; and numerically, by using the relaxation method and direct numerical time integrations of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE). Very good agreement of the results corresponding to both treatments is observed.Comment: 8 pages (two-column format), with 16 eps-files of 4 figure

Universal fractal structures in the weak interaction of solitary waves in generalized nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equations

Weak interactions of solitary waves in the generalized nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equations are studied. It is first shown that these interactions exhibit similar fractal dependence on initial conditions for different nonlinearities. Then by using the Karpman-Solov'ev method, a universal system of dynamical equations is derived for the velocities, amplitudes, positions and phases of interacting solitary waves. These dynamical equations contain a single parameter, which accounts for the different forms of nonlinearity. When this parameter is zero, these dynamical equations are integrable, and the exact analytical solutions are derived. When this parameter is non-zero, the dynamical equations exhibit fractal structures which match those in the original wave equations both qualitatively and quantitatively. Thus the universal nature of fractal structures in the weak interaction of solitary waves is analytically established. The origin of these fractal structures is also explored. It is shown that these structures bifurcate from the initial conditions where the solutions of the integrable dynamical equations develop finite-time singularities. Based on this observation, an analytical criterion for the existence and locations of fractal structures is obtained. Lastly, these analytical results are applied to the generalized nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger equations with various nonlinearities such as the saturable nonlinearity, and predictions on their weak interactions of solitary waves are made.Comment: 22pages, 15 figure

Matter-wave vortices in cigar-shaped and toroidal waveguides

We study vortical states in a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) filling a cigar-shaped trap. An effective one-dimensional (1D) nonpolynomial Schroedinger equation (NPSE) is derived in this setting, for the models with both repulsive and attractive inter-atomic interactions. Analytical formulas for the density profiles are obtained from the NPSE in the case of self-repulsion within the Thomas-Fermi approximation, and in the case of the self-attraction as exact solutions (bright solitons). A crucially important ingredient of the analysis is the comparison of these predictions with direct numerical solutions for the vortex states in the underlying 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE). The comparison demonstrates that the NPSE provides for a very accurate approximation, in all the cases, including the prediction of the stability of the bright solitons and collapse threshold for them. In addition to the straight cigar-shaped trap, we also consider a torus-shaped configuration. In that case, we find a threshold for the transition from the axially uniform state, with the transverse intrinsic vorticity, to a symmetry-breaking pattern, due to the instability in the self-attractive BEC filling the circular trap.Comment: 6 pages, Physical Review A, in pres

Spatiotemporal discrete multicolor solitons

We have found various families of two-dimensional spatiotemporal solitons in quadratically nonlinear waveguide arrays. The families of unstaggered odd, even and twisted stationary solutions are thoroughly characterized and their stability against perturbations is investigated. We show that the twisted and even solutions display instability, while most of the odd solitons show remarkable stability upon evolution.Comment: 18 pages,7 figures. To appear in Physical Review

Vector solitons in nearly-one-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates

We derive a system of nonpolynomial Schroedinger equations (NPSEs) for one-dimensional wave functions of two components in a binary self-attractive Bose-Einstein condensate loaded in a cigar-shaped trap. The system is obtained by means of the variational approximation, starting from the coupled 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equations and assuming, as usual, the factorization of 3D wave functions. The system can be obtained in a tractable form under a natural condition of symmetry between the two species. A family of vector (two-component) soliton solutions is constructed. Collisions between orthogonal solitons (ones belonging to the different components) are investigated by means of simulations. The collisions are essentially inelastic. They result in strong excitation of intrinsic vibrations in the solitons, and create a small orthogonal component ("shadow") in each colliding soliton. The collision may initiate collapse, which depends on the mass and velocities of the solitons.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures; Physical Review A, in pres

Discrete Solitons and Vortices on Anisotropic Lattices

We consider effects of anisotropy on solitons of various types in two-dimensional nonlinear lattices, using the discrete nonlinear Schr{\"{o}}dinger equation as a paradigm model. For fundamental solitons, we develop a variational approximation, which predicts that broad quasi-continuum solitons are unstable, while their strongly anisotropic counterparts are stable. By means of numerical methods, it is found that, in the general case, the fundamental solitons and simplest on-site-centered vortex solitons ("vortex crosses") feature enhanced or reduced stability areas, depending on the strength of the anisotropy. More surprising is the effect of anisotropy on the so-called "super-symmetric" intersite-centered vortices ("vortex squares"), with the topological charge $S$ equal to the square's size $M$: we predict in an analytical form by means of the Lyapunov-Schmidt theory, and confirm by numerical results, that arbitrarily weak anisotropy results in dramatic changes in the stability and dynamics in comparison with the \emph{degenerate}, in this case, isotropic limit.Comment: 10 pages + 7 figure

On spectral stability of solitary waves of nonlinear Dirac equation on a line

We study the spectral stability of solitary wave solutions to the nonlinear Dirac equation in one dimension. We focus on the Dirac equation with cubic nonlinearity, known as the Soler model in (1+1) dimensions and also as the massive Gross-Neveu model. Presented numerical computations of the spectrum of linearization at a solitary wave show that the solitary waves are spectrally stable. We corroborate our results by finding explicit expressions for several of the eigenfunctions. Some of the analytic results hold for the nonlinear Dirac equation with generic nonlinearity.Comment: 20 pages with figure