Stability of standing matter waves in a trap

Abstract

We discuss excited Bose-condensed states and find the criterion of dynamical stability of a kinkwise state, i.e., a standing matter wave with one nodal plane perpendicular to the axis of a cylindrical trap. The dynamical stability requires a strong radial confinement corresponding to the radial frequency larger than the mean-field interparticle interaction. We address the question of thermodynamic instability related to the presence of excitations with negative energy. © 1999 The American Physical Society.