Dynamic stability of a doubly quantized vortex in a three-dimensional condensate

The Bogoliubov equations are solved for a three-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensate containing a doubly quantized vortex, trapped in a harmonic potential. Complex frequencies, signifying dynamical instability, are found for certain ranges of parameter values. The existence of alternating windows of stability and instability, respectively, is explained qualitatively and quantitatively using variational calculus and direct numerical solutions. It is seen that the windows of stability disappear in the limit of a cigar-shaped condensate, which is consistent with recent experimental results on the lifetime of a doubly quantized vortex in that regime.