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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 July 2021
This chapter introduces the order parameter and the Gross--Pitaevskii equation. Although a Bose-Einstein C condensate (BEC) is a quantum many-body system which that can be described fully only using the many-body wavefunction, many of its simplest spatial dynamics can be understood using the order parameter and its dynamics. We first describe how the order parameter can be formally defined, and how this can be considered an effective spatial wavefunction of the BEC. We then derive the time-dependent evolution of the order parameter via the Gross--Pitaevskii equation, then and study various solutions of it. This includes plane-wave solutions, an infinite potential well solutions, and excited state solutions such as vortices and solitons. After introducing key concepts such as the Thomas--Fermi approximation and the healing length, we also discuss how the Gross--Pitaevskii equation can be cast in the form of hydrodynamic equations.
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