Methods for a nonuniform Bose gas

Abstract

We review mathematical methods for the treatment of a system of Bose particles with nonuniform density. The use of the pseudopotential is explained, especially with respect to negative scattering lengths. It is emphasized that the delta-function potential produces no scattering in three dimensions, and should not be used in the Bogoliubov self-consistent field method, which is variational in nature. A common misuse of the Bogoliubov method at finite temperatures is pointed out. A Gaussian variational method is proposed.