Abstract

We consider the quantum dynamics of a neutral atom Bose-Einstein condensate in a double-well potential, including hard-sphere particle interactions. Our model system is a symmetric double-well single-particle potential V(r) with minima at r; and r₂. We assume the potential is such that the two lowest states are closely spaced and well separated from higher levels of the potential. This permits a two-mode approximation to be used. We define the state u₀(r) as the normalized groundstate mode of the local potential ${\overline{V}}^{\left(2\right)}\left(r\right)$ with energy E₀, where ${\overline{V}}^{\left(2\right)}\left(r-r_j\right)$ is the parabolic approximation to the potential near each minimum, and we define the local mode solutions of the individual wells u_1,2(r) = u₀(r – r_1,2).

© 1997 Optical Society of America