Universality in nonadiabatic behavior of classical actions in nonlinear models of Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We discuss the dynamics of approximate adiabatic invariants in several nonlinear models being related to the physics of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). We show that the nonadiabatic dynamics in Feshbach resonance passage, nonlinear Landau-Zener (NLZ) tunneling, and BEC tunneling oscillations in a double well can be considered within a unifying approach based on the theory of separatrix crossings. The separatrix crossing theory was applied previously to some problems of classical mechanics, plasma physics, and hydrodynamics, but has not been used in the rapidly growing BEC-related field yet. We derive explicit formulas for the change in the action in several models. Extensive numerical calculations support the theory and demonstrate its universal character. We also discovered a nonlinear phenomenon in the NLZ model which we propose to call separated adiabatic tunneling.