Expansion of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in the Presence of Disorder

Abstract

Expansion of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is studied, in the presence of a random potential. The expansion is controlled by a single parameter, $(μτ_{eff} /\hbar)$, where $μ$ is the chemical potential, prior to the release of the BEC from the trap, and $τ_{eff}$ is a transport relaxation time which characterizes the strength of the disorder. Repulsive interactions (nonlinearity) facilitate transport and can lead to diffusive spreading of the condensate which, in the absence of interactions, would have remained localized in the vicinity of its initial location.