Luca Salasnich (INFM and Univ. Milano)
Time-Dependent Variational Approach to Bose-Einstein Condensation
(32K, RevTex)

ABSTRACT.  We discuss the mean-field approximation for a trapped 
weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein 
condensate (BEC) and its connection with the exact many-body problem 
by deriving the Gross-Pitaevskii action of the condensate. 
The mechanics of the BEC in a harmonic potential 
is studied by using a variational 
approach with time-dependent Gaussian trial wave-functions. 
In particular, 
we analyze the static configurations, the stability 
and the collective oscillations for both ground-state and vortices. 
(Submitted to Int. J. Mod. Phys. B).