title: Controlling the motion of dark solitons by means of periodic potentials: application to Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices.
abstract: We demonstrate that the motion of dark solitons (DSs) can be controlled by means of periodic potentials. The mechanism is realized in terms of cigar-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates confined in a harmonic magnetic potential, in the presence of an optical lattice (OL). In the case when the OL period is comparable to the width of the DS, we demonstrate that (a) a moving dark soliton can be captured, switching on the OL, and (b) a stationary DS can be dragged by a moving OL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografos, Athens 15784, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theocharis
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Frantzeskakis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carretero-González
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kevrekidis
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Malomed