Optical generation of vortices in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates - art.no. 043601

We study theoretically a generation of vortices by phase imprinting in trap ped Bose-Einstein condensates. Phase imprinting is achieved by passing a sh ort off-resonance laser pulse through an appropriately designed absorption plate, and impinging it on a condensate. We answer the fundamental question how the circulation and the vortex are introduced into the system. We disc uss the possibility of multiple vortex arrays creation. Using multiple abso rption plates we show that genuine vortex arrays and vortex-antivortex conf igurations can be created in a controlled way. We discuss vortex dynamics a nd interactions in such configurations. Various methods of vortex detection based on interference combined with Bragg scattering technique are also an alyzed.