Mean field dynamics of Bose-Einstein superchemistry

Using coupled Gross-Pitaevskii type equations, we study spatially dependent effects in the process of coherent Raman photoassociation, also known as superchemistry, which couples atomic and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates. In continuous wave superchemistry, we find that the spatial dependence and density dependent interactions typical of realistic condensates are important. We show that the dynamics depend crucially on the trapping potentials and the self and cross species interactions and that one of the most important experimentally variable parameters is the two-photon detuning. We also show how analytical expressions which allow some physical insight can be found for a zero-dimensional model, where spatial effects are not included.