The macroscopic interference of two Bose condensates released from a double minimum potential has been demonstrated recently [M. R. Andrews et al., Science 275, 637 (1997)]. In this Letter we show the excellent agreement between those experiments and theoretical predictions based on the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In addition, the transition from interference of coupled condensates, comparable with the Josephson effect in superconductors, to the interference of independent Bose condensates is studied.

• Received 28 February 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.4143