Dynamics of laser-induced lattice formation in Bose-Einstein condensates

We present variational and numerical solutions of the generalized Gross--Pitaevskii equation for an atomic Bose--Einstein condensate with time-dependent, laser-induced dipole-dipole interactions (LIDDI). The formation of a supersolid ground state due to LIDDI in an elongated (cigar-shaped) BEC is investigated. It is found that the supersolid structure emerges if the laser intensity exceeds a critical value, which depends on the linear density of atoms in the BEC.