Creation of Dark Solitons and Vortices in Bose-Einstein Condensates

We propose and analyze a scheme to create dark solitons and vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates. This is achieved starting from a condensate in the internal state $|a>$ and transferring the atoms to the internal state $|b>$ via a Raman transition induced by laser light. By scanning adiabatically the Raman detuning, dark solitons and vortices are created.