The dynamics of vortices in trapped Bose-Einstein condensates are investigated both analytically and numerically. In axially symmetric traps, the critical rotation frequency for metastability of an isolated vortex coincides with the largest vortex precession frequency (or anomalous mode) in the Bogoliubov excitation spectrum. The number of anomalous modes increases for an elongated condensate. The largest mode frequency exceeds the thermodynamic critical frequency and the nucleation frequency at which vortices are created dynamically. Thus, anomalous modes describe both vortex precession and the critical rotation frequency for creation of the first vortex in an elongated condensate.

• Received 5 September 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.86.564