Dynamics of Trapped Bose Gases at Finite Temperatures

Starting from an approximate microscopic model of a trapped Bose-condensed gas at finite temperatures, we derive an equation of motion for the condensate wavefunction and a quantum kinetic equation for the distribution function for the excited atoms. The kinetic equation is a generalization of our earlier work in that collisions between the condensate and non-condensate (C ₁₂ ) are now included, in addition to collisions between the excited atoms as described by the Uehling–Uhlenbeck (C ₂₂ ) collision integral. The continuity equation for the local condensate density contains a source term ₁₂ which is related to the C ₁₂ collision term. If we assume that the C ₂₂ collision rate is sufficiently rapid to ensure that the non-condensate distribution function can be approximated by a local equilibrium Bose distribution, the kinetic equation can be used to derive hydrodynamic equations for the non-condensate. The ₁₂ source terms appearing in these equations play a key role in describing the equilibration of the local chemical potentials associated with the condensate and non-condensate components. We give a detailed study of these hydrodynamic equations and show how the Landau two-fluid equations emerge in the frequency domain is a characteristic relaxation time associated with C ₁₂ collisions. More generally, the lack of complete local equilibrium between the condensate and non-condensate is shown to give rise to a new relaxational mode which is associated with the exchange of atoms between the two components. This new mode provides an additional source of damping in the hydrodynamic regime. Our equations are consistent with the generalized Kohn theorem for the center of mass motion of the trapped gas even in the presence of collisions. Finally, we formulate a variational solution of the equations which provides a very convenient and physical way of estimating normal mode frequencies. In particular, we use relatively simple trial functions within this approach to work out some of the monopole, dipole and quadrupole oscillations for an isotropic trap.