  We demonstrate numerically the efficient generation of vortices in
Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) by using a ``phase imprinting'' method. The
method consist of passing a far off resonant laser pulse through an absorption
plate with azimuthally dependent absorption coefficient, imaging the laser beam
onto a BEC, and thus creating the corresponding non-dissipative Stark shift
potential and condensate phase shift. In our calculations we take into account
experimental imperfections. We also propose an interference method to detect
vortices by coherently pushing part of the condensate using optically induced
Bragg scattering.
