Density expectation value of two independent interacting Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

After removing the double-well potential trapping two initially independent Bose condensates, the density expectation value is calculated when both the exchange symmetry of identical bosons and interatomic interaction are considered. After the overlapping, it is shown that there is a nonzero interference term in the density expectation value. This nonzero interference term physically arises from the exchange symmetry of identical bosons and interatomic interaction which make two initially independent condensates become coherent after the overlapping. It is found that the calculated density expectation value with this model agrees with the interference pattern observed in the experiment by Andrews et al (Science 275, 637 (1997)).