Collapse of Solutions of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation with a Time-Dependent Nonlinearity: Application to Bose-Einstein Condensates

Abstract

It is proven that periodically varying and sign definite nonlinearity in a general case does not prevent collapse in two-dimensional and three-dimensional nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations: at any oscillation frequency of the nonlinearity blowing up solutions exist. Contrary to the results known for a sign-alternating nonlinearity, an increase of the frequency of oscillations accelerates collapse. The effect is discussed from the viewpoint of scaling arguments. For the three-dimensional case a sufficient condition for the existence of collapse is rigorously established. The results are discussed in the context of the mean field theory of Bose-Einstein condensates with time-dependent scattering length.