BOSONS IN ANISOTROPIC TRAPS - GROUND-STATE AND VORTICES

We solve the Gross-Pitaevskii equations for a dilute atomic gas in a m agnetic trap, modeled by an anisotropic harmonic potential. We evaluat e the wave function and the energy of the Bose-Einstein condensate as a function of the particle number, both for positive and negative scat tering length. The results for the transverse and the vertical size of the cloud of atoms, as well as for the kinetic and potential energy p er particle, are compared with the predictions of approximated models. We also compare the aspect ratio of the velocity distribution with ex perimental estimates available for Rb-87. Vortex states are considered and the critical angular velocity for production of vortices is calcu lated. We show that the presence of vortices significantly increases t he stability of the condensate in the case of attractive interactions.