Nonlinear dynamics of a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical cavity

Abstract

We investigate the nonlinear dynamics of a combined system which is composed of a cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensate and an optical cavity with the two sides coupled dispersively. This system is characterized by the cavity-induced nonlinearity; after integrating out the fast degree of freedom of the cavity mode, the potential felt by the condensate depends on the condensate itself. Adopting a discrete-mode approximation for the condensate, we map out the steady configurations of the system. It is found that due to the nonlinearity of the system, the nonlinear levels of the system may fold up in some parameter regimes. That will lead to the breakdown of adiabatic evolution of the system. Analysis of the dynamical stability of the steady states indicates that the same level structure also results in optical bistability.