Transverse laser modes in Bose-Einstein condensates

Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are in many ways similar to laser light. In Fox-Li-type simulations, which involve free evolution of a two-dimensional BEC in combination with periodic focusing and localized loss, we model here numerically the BEC equivalent of transverse aspects of laser resonators. We discuss possible experimental realizations in the form of periodic series of light pulses interacting with the BEC. We show that such experiments can result in trapped, structurally stable, modes analogous to Hermite-Gaussian laser modes. This outlines a new way of trapping BECs and illustrates further the analogy between BECs and laser light.