METASTABLE BOSE CONDENSATE MADE OF ATOMS WITH ATTRACTIVE INTERACTION

Recent experiments with trapped cooled atoms have produced evidence fo r Bose-Einstein condensation (BEG). Among the atoms used are Li-7, wit h attractive low-energy interaction. A potential barrier separating th e condensed part from the collapse is studied and stability limits are established. The lifetime due to tunneling is estimated and is found to be very small. We further argue that BEC should have significant an gular momentum L/N similar to 1h and thus both stares with angular mom entum I-z=0,1 should be ''macroscopically'' populated. Eventually, as rotation is slowed down, collapse and strong reheating should occur, i n amusing resemblance to a supernova explosion.