Josephson effect between trapped Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the Josephson effect between atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. By drawing on an electrostatic analogy, we derive a semiclassical functional expression for the three-dimensional Josephson coupling energy in terms of the condensate density. Estimates of the capacitive energy and of the Josephson plasma frequency are also given. The effect of dissipation due to the incoherent exchange of normal atoms is analyzed. We conclude that coherent Josephson dynamics may already be observable in current experimental systems. [S1050-2947(98)50501-X].