Variational calculations on multilayer stacks of dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract: We investigate a multilayer stack of dipolar Bose-Einstein condensates in terms of a simple Gaussian variational ansatz and demonstrate that this arrangement is characterized by the existence several stationary states. Using a Hamiltonian picture we show that in an excited stack there is a coupled motion of the individual condensates by which they exchange energy. We find that for high excitations the interaction between the single condensates can induce the collapse of one of them. We furthermore demonstrate that one collapse in the stack can force other collapses, too. We discuss the possibility of experimentally observing the coupled motion and the relevance of the variational results found to full numerical investigations.