Variational approach for Bose–Einstein condensates in strongly disordered traps

Abstract

Recently, Nattermann and Pokrovsky [PRL 100, 060402 (2008)] have proposed a\nscaling approach for studying Bose-Einstein condensates in strongly disordered\ntraps. In this paper we implement their scaling argument in the framework of\nthe variational method for solving the time dependent Gross-Pitaevskii\nequation. We consider atomic gases with both short range s-wave interaction and\nlong range anisotropic dipolar interaction. The theory is addressed to the\nregime of strong disorder and weak interactions where the physics is dominated\nby the collective pinning due to the disorder. The phenomenon of condensate\nfragmentation in dipolar gases is also analyzed.\n