On the characterization of vortex configurations in the steady rotating Bose–Einstein condensates

Motivated by experiments in atomic Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs), we compare predictions of a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for dynamics of one and two individual vortices in the rotating BECs with those of the Gross–Pitaevskii mean-field model written as a partial differential equation (PDE). In particular, we characterize orbitally stable vortex configurations in a symmetric harmonic trap due to a cubic repulsive interaction and a steady rotation. The ODE system is analysed in detail and the PDE model is approximated numerically. Good agreement between the two models is established in the semi-classical (Thomas–Fermi) limit that corresponds to the BECs at large values of the chemical potential.