Some exact solutions of the local induction equation for the motion of a vortex in a Bose–Einstein condensate with a Gaussian density profile

Abstract

The dynamics of a vortex filament in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate is considered when the equilibrium density of the condensate, in rotating with angular velocity ${\bf\Omega}$ coordinate system, is Gaussian with a quadratic form ${\bf r}\cdot\hat D{\bf r}$. It is shown that equation of motion of the filament in the local induction approximation admits a class of exact solutions in the form of a straight moving vortex, ${\bf R}(\beta,t)=\beta {\bf M}(t) +{\bf N}(t)$, where $\beta$ is a longitudinal parameter, and $t$ is the time. The vortex is in touch with an ellipsoid, as it follows from the conservation laws ${\bf N}\cdot \hat D {\bf N}=C_1$ and ${\bf M}\cdot \hat D {\bf N}=C_0=0$. Equation of motion for the tangent vector ${\bf M}(t)$ turns out to be closed, and it has the integrals ${\bf M}\cdot \hat D {\bf M}=C_2$, $(|{\bf M}| -{\bf M}\cdot\hat G{\bf \Omega})=C$, where the matrix $\hat G=2(\hat I \mbox{Tr\,} \hat D -\hat D)^{-1}$. Intersection of the corresponding level surfaces determines trajectories in the phase space.