  We study the merging and splitting of quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein
condensates with strong dipolar interactions. We observe that if the dipoles
have a non-zero component in the plane of the condensate, the dynamics of
merging or splitting along two orthogonal directions, parallel and
perpendicular to the projection of dipoles on the plane of the condensate are
different. The anisotropic merging and splitting of the condensate is a
manifestation of the anisotropy of the roton-like mode in the dipolar system.
The difference in dynamics disappears if the dipoles are oriented at right
angles to the plane of the condensate as in this case the Bogoliubov
dispersion, despite having roton-like features, is isotropic.
