Dark-Bright Solitons in Inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein Condensates

Abstract

We investigate dark-bright vector solitary wave solutions to the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations which describe an inhomogeneous two-species Bose-Einstein condensate. While these structures are well known in nonlinear fiber optics, we show that spatial inhomogeneity strongly affects their motion, stability, and interaction, and that current technology suffices for their creation and control in ultracold trapped gases. The effect of controllably different interparticle scattering lengths is examined, and stability against three-dimensional deformations is considered.