Matter-wave localization in a random potential

Abstract: By numerical and variational solution of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, we studied the localization of a noninteracting and weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in a disordered cold atom lattice and a speckle potential. In the case of a single BEC fragment, the variational analysis produced good results. For a weakly disordered potential, the localized BECs are found to have an exponential tail as in weak Anderson localization. We also investigated the expansion of a noninteracting BEC in these potential. We find that the BEC will be locked in an appropriate localized state after an initial expansion and will execute breathing oscillation around a mean shape when a BEC at equilibrium in a harmonic trap is suddenly released into a disorder potential.