Coherent manipulation and guiding of Bose-Einstein condensates by optical dipole potentials

The coherent manipulation of Bose-Einstein condensates by far blue detuned optical dipole potentials is discussed in two regimes. The local manipulation of the phase of the condensate wavefunction by temporally applied dipole potentials represents a powerful tool for the design of matter waves. We use this method in particular for the creation of dark solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates and study their dynamics. Spatially inhomogeneous dipole potentials like far blue detuned doughnut laser beams can be used for the creation of Bose-Einstein condensates within a waveguide structure.