A nonlinear dynamics approach to Bogoliubov excitations of Bose-Einstein condensates

We assume the macroscopic wave function of a Bose-Einstein condensate as a superposition of Gaussian wave packets, with time-dependent complex width parameters, insert it into the mean-field energy functional corresponding to the Gross-Pitaevskii equation (GPE) and apply the time-dependent variational principle. In this way the GPE is mapped onto a system of coupled equations of motion for the complex width parameters, which can be analyzed using the methods of nonlinear dynamics. We perform a stability analysis of the fixed points of the nonlinear system, and demonstrate that the eigenvalues of the Jacobian reproduce the low-lying quantum mechanical Bogoliubov excitation spectrum of a condensate in an axisymmetric trap.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings of the "8th International Summer School/Conference Let's Face Chaos Through Nonlinear Dynamics", CAMTP, University of Maribor, Slovenia, 26 June - 10 July 201

Exceptional Points for Nonlinear Schroedinger Equations Describing Bose-Einstein Condensates of Ultracold Atomic Gases

The coalescence of two eigenfunctions with the same energy eigenvalue is not possible in Hermitian Hamiltonians. It is, however, a phenomenon well known from non-hermitian quantum mechanics. It can appear, e.g., for resonances in open systems, with complex energy eigenvalues. If two eigenvalues of a quantum mechanical system which depends on two or more parameters pass through such a branch point singularity at a critical set of parameters, the point in the parameter space is called an exceptional point. We will demonstrate that exceptional points occur not only for non-hermitean Hamiltonians but also in the nonlinear Schroedinger equations which describe Bose-Einstein condensates, i.e., the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for condensates with a short-range contact interaction, and with additional long-range interactions. Typically, in these condensates the exceptional points are also found to be bifurcation points in parameter space. For condensates with a gravity-like interaction between the atoms, these findings can be confirmed in an analytical way

Signatures of the classical transition state in atomic quantum spectra

We perform quantum mechanically exact calculations of resonances in the spectrum of the hydrogen atom in crossed external fields and establish a close connection between the classical transition state in phase space and features in the quantum spectrum. By varying the external field strengths, structures are revealed which are surprisingly similar to the quantized energy levels of the classical electron motion in the vicinity of the saddle point obtained with an approximation of the potential. The results give clear evidence for signatures of the transition state in quantum spectra.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, one reference was adde

Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation for a PT symmetric delta-functions double well

The time-independent nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation is solved for two attractive delta-function shaped potential wells where an imaginary loss term is added in one well, and a gain term of the same size but with opposite sign in the other. We show that for vanishing nonlinearity the model captures all the features known from studies of PT symmetric optical wave guides, e.g., the coalescence of modes in an exceptional point at a critical value of the loss/gain parameter, and the breaking of PT symmetry beyond. With the nonlinearity present, the equation is a model for a Bose-Einstein condensate with loss and gain in a double well potential. We find that the nonlinear Hamiltonian picks as stationary eigenstates exactly such solutions which render the nonlinear Hamiltonian itself PT symmetric, but observe coalescence and bifurcation scenarios different from those known from linear PT symmetric Hamiltonians.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Journal of Physics

Exactly solvable Wadati potentials in the PT-symmetric Gross-Pitaevskii equation

This note examines Gross-Pitaevskii equations with PT-symmetric potentials of the Wadati type: $V=-W^2+iW_x$. We formulate a recipe for the construction of Wadati potentials supporting exact localised solutions. The general procedure is exemplified by equations with attractive and repulsive cubic nonlinearity bearing a variety of bright and dark solitons.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of the 15 Conference on Pseudo-Hermitian Hamiltonians in Quantum Physics, May 18-23 2015, Palermo, Italy (Springer Proceedings in Physics, 2016

Resonance scattering and singularities of the scattering function

Recent studies of transport phenomena with complex potentials are explained by generic square root singularities of spectrum and eigenfunctions of non-Hermitian Hamiltonians. Using a two channel problem we demonstrate that such singularities produce a significant effect upon the pole behaviour of the scattering matrix, and more significantly upon the associated residues. This mechanism explains why by proper choice of the system parameters the resonance cross section is increased drastically in one channel and suppressed in the other channel.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Analysis technique for exceptional points in open quantum systems and QPT analogy for the appearance of irreversibility

We propose an analysis technique for the exceptional points (EPs) occurring in the discrete spectrum of open quantum systems (OQS), using a semi-infinite chain coupled to an endpoint impurity as a prototype. We outline our method to locate the EPs in OQS, further obtaining an eigenvalue expansion in the vicinity of the EPs that gives rise to characteristic exponents. We also report the precise number of EPs occurring in an OQS with a continuum described by a quadratic dispersion curve. In particular, the number of EPs occurring in a bare discrete Hamiltonian of dimension $n_\textrm{D}$ is given by $n_\textrm{D} (n_\textrm{D} - 1)$; if this discrete Hamiltonian is then coupled to continuum (or continua) to form an OQS, the interaction with the continuum generally produces an enlarged discrete solution space that includes a greater number of EPs, specifically $2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) [2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) - 1]$, in which $n_\textrm{C}$ is the number of (non-degenerate) continua to which the discrete sector is attached. Finally, we offer a heuristic quantum phase transition analogy for the emergence of the resonance (giving rise to irreversibility via exponential decay) in which the decay width plays the role of the order parameter; the associated critical exponent is then determined by the above eigenvalue expansion.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

The nonlinear Schroedinger equation for the delta-comb potential: quasi-classical chaos and bifurcations of periodic stationary solutions

The nonlinear Schroedinger equation is studied for a periodic sequence of delta-potentials (a delta-comb) or narrow Gaussian potentials. For the delta-comb the time-independent nonlinear Schroedinger equation can be solved analytically in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions and thus provides useful insight into the features of nonlinear stationary states of periodic potentials. Phenomena well-known from classical chaos are found, such as a bifurcation of periodic stationary states and a transition to spatial chaos. The relation of new features of nonlinear Bloch bands, such as looped and period doubled bands, are analyzed in detail. An analytic expression for the critical nonlinearity for the emergence of looped bands is derived. The results for the delta-comb are generalized to a more realistic potential consisting of a periodic sequence of narrow Gaussian peaks and the dynamical stability of periodic solutions in a Gaussian comb is discussed.Comment: Enhanced and revised version, to appear in J. Nonlin. Math. Phy

PT-Symmetric Dimer in a Generalized Model of Coupled Nonlinear Oscillators

Abstract In the present work, we explore the case of a general PT -symmetric dimer in the context of two both linearly and nonlinearly coupled cubic oscillators. To obtain an analytical handle on the system, we first explore the rotating wave approximation converting it into a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger type dimer. In the latter context, the stationary solutions and their stability are identified numerically but also wherever possible analytically. Solutions stemming from both symmetric and anti-symmetric special limits are identified. A number of special cases are explored regarding the ratio of coefficients of nonlinearity between oscillators over the intrinsic one of each oscillator. Finally, the considerations are extended to the original oscillator model, where periodic orbits and their stability are obtained. When the solutions are found to be unstable their dynamics is monitored by means of direct numerical simulations