We have observed phase singularities due to vortex excitation in Bose-Einstein
condensates. Vortices were created by moving a laser beam through a condensate.
They were observed as dislocations in the interference fringes formed by the stirred
condensate and a second unperturbed condensate. The velocity dependence for vortex
excitation and the time scale for re-establishing a uniform phase across the condensate
were determined.