Abstract. We develop an approximate formalism suitable for performing simulations of the thermal dynamics of interacting Bose gases. The method is based on the observation that when the lowest-energy modes of the Bose field operator are highly occupied, they may be treated classically to a good approximation. We derive a finite-temperature Gross-Pitaevskii equation (FTGPE) for these modes which is coupled to an effective reservoir described by quantum kinetic theory. We discuss each of the terms that arise in this GPE, and their relevance to experimental systems. We then describe a simpler projected GPE that may be useful in simulating thermal Bose condensates. This classical method could be applied to other Bose fields.

Print publication: Issue 22 (28 November 2001)
Received 2 August 2001
Published 12 November 2001