Optical generation of vortices in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We study theoretically a generation of vortices by phase imprinting in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates. Phase imprinting is achieved by passing a short 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 discuss the possibility of multiple vortex arrays creation. Using multiple absorption plates we show that genuine vortex arrays and vortex-antivortex configurations can be created in a controlled way. We discuss vortex dynamics and interactions in such configurations. Various methods of vortex detection based on interference combined with Bragg scattering technique are also analyzed.