  We study the Josephson effect between atomic Bose-Einstein condensates. By
drawing on an electrostatic analogy, we derive a semiclassical functional
expression for the three-dimensional Josephson coupling energy in terms of the
condensate density. Estimates of the capacitive energy and of the Josephson
plasma frequency are also given. The effect of dissipation due to the
incoherent exchange of normal atoms is analysed. We conclude that coherent
Josephson dynamics may already be observable in current experimental systems.
