Time-dependent variational analysis of Josephson oscillations in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate

The dynamics of Josephson-like oscillations between two coupled Bose-Einstein condensates is studied using the time-dependent variational method. We suppose that the quantum state of the condensates is a Gaussian wave-packet which can translate and perform breathing shape oscillations. Under this hypothesis we study the influence of these degrees of freedom on the tunneling dynamics by comparing the full-model with one where these degrees of freedom are ''frozen'' at its equilibrium values. The result of our calculation shows that when the traps are not displaced the two models agree, whereas when they are, the models differ considerably, the former being now closer to its linear approximation.