Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0704.3047 · Physical Review Letters

Observation of Atom Pairs in Spontaneous Four-Wave Mixing of Two Colliding Bose-Einstein Condensates

A. Perrin, Hong Chang, Valentina Krachmalnicoff, M. Schellekens, Denis Boiron, Alain Aspect, Christoph Ira Westbrook

Published Oct 12, 2007• 159 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We study atom scattering from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates using a position sensitive, time resolved, single atom detector. In analogy to quantum optics, the process can also be thought of as spontaneous, degenerate four-wave mixing of de Broglie waves. We find a clear correlation between atoms with opposite momenta, demonstrating pair production in the scattering process. We also observe a Hanbury Brown-Twiss correlation for collinear momenta, which permits an independent measurement of the size of the pair production source and thus the size of the spatial mode. The back-to-back pairs occupy very nearly two oppositely directed spatial modes, a promising feature for future quantum optics experiments.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.99.150405

Related papers

Atom-atom correlations in spontaneous four wave mixing of two colliding Bose-Einstein Condensates

A. Perrin, Hong Chang, Valentina Krachmalnicoff +4 more

We study atom scattering from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates using a position sensitive, time resolved, single atom detector. In analogy to quantum optics, the process can also be thought of as spontaneous, degenerate four wave mixing of de Broglie waves. We find a clear correlation between atoms with opposite momenta, demonstrating pair production in the scattering process. We also observe a Hanbury Brown and Twiss correlation for collinear momenta, which permits an independent measurement of the size of the pair production source and thus the size of the spatial mode. The back to back pairs occupy very nearly two oppositely directed spatial modes, a promising feature for future quantum optics experiments.

•Apr 23, 2007•0 citations

Spontaneous Four-Wave Mixing of de Broglie Waves: Beyond Optics

Valentina Krachmalnicoff, Jean-Christophe Jaskula, Marie Bonneau +8 more

We investigate the atom-optical analog of degenerate four-wave mixing by colliding two Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable helium. The momentum distribution of the scattered atoms is measured in three dimensions. A simple analogy with photon phase matching conditions suggests a spherical final distribution. We find, however, that it is an ellipsoid with radii smaller than the initial collision momenta. Numerical and analytical calculations agree with this and reveal the interplay between many-body effects, mean-field interaction, and the anisotropy of the source condensate.

arXiv:0911.4564•Physical Review Letters•Apr 15, 2010•81 citations

Generation of Macroscopic Pair-Correlated Atomic Beams by Four-Wave Mixing in Bose-Einstein Condensates

J. M. M. J. Vogels, K. Xu, Wolfgang Ketterle

By colliding two Bose-Einstein condensates, we have observed strong bosonic stimulation of the elastic scattering process. When a weak input beam was applied as a seed, it was amplified by a factor of 20. This large gain atomic four-wave mixing resulted in the generation of two macroscopically occupied pair-correlated atomic beams.

arXiv:cond-mat/0203286•Physical Review Letters•Jun 24, 2002•131 citations

Atomic four-wave mixing via condensates collisions

A. Perrin, C. M. Savage, Valentina Krachmalnicoff +4 more

We perform first principles quantum simulations of atomic four-wave mixing via a collision of two Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable helium atoms. We analyse the collinear and back-to-back pair correlations of atoms on the s-wave scattering halo. The results provide qualitative and quantitative understanding of the recent experiments at Orsay [A. Perrin et al., arXiv: 0704.3047].

Quantum-Atom Optics Downunder (QAO)•Jan 1, 2007•1 citation

Pair correlations of scattered atoms from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates: Perturbative approach

Jan Chwedeńczuk, Paweł Zin, Marek Trippenbach +4 more

We apply an analytical model for anisotropic, colliding Bose-Einstein condensates in a spontaneous four-wave-mixing geometry to evaluate the second-order correlation function of the field of scattered atoms. Our approach uses quantized scattering modes and the equivalent of a classical, undepleted pump approximation. Results to lowest order in perturbation theory are compared with a recent experiment and with other theoretical approaches.

arXiv:0807.3435•Physical Review A•Nov 4, 2008•25 citations

Hanbury Brown and Twiss correlations in atoms scattered from colliding condensates

Klaus Mølmer, A. Perrin, Valentina Krachmalnicoff +4 more

Low energy elastic scattering between clouds of Bose condensed atoms leads to the well known $s$-wave halo with atoms emerging in all directions from the collision zone. In this paper we discuss the emergence of Hanbury Brown and Twiss coincidences between atoms scattered in nearly parallel directions. We develop a simple model that explains the observations in terms of an interference involving two pairs of atoms each associated with the elementary $s$-wave scattering process.

arXiv:0710.0208•Physical Review A•Mar 4, 2008•32 citations
We study atom scattering from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates using a position sensitive, time resolved, single atom detector. In analogy to quantum optics, the process can also be thought of as spontaneous, degenerate four-wave mixing of de Broglie waves. We find a clear correlation between atoms with opposite momenta, demonstrating pair production in the scattering process. We also observe a Hanbury Brown-Twiss correlation for collinear momenta, which permits an independent measurement of the size of the pair production source and thus the size of the spatial mode. The back-to-back pairs occupy very nearly two oppositely directed spatial modes, a promising feature for future quantum optics experiments.
We study atom scattering from two colliding Bose-Einstein condensates using a position sensitive, time resolved, single atom detector. In analogy to quantum optics, the process can also be thought of as spontaneous, degenerate four wave mixing of de Broglie waves. We find a clear correlation between atoms with opposite momenta, demonstrating pair production in the scattering process. We also observe a Hanbury Brown and Twiss correlation for collinear momenta, which permits an independent measurement of the size of the pair production source and thus the size of the spatial mode. The back to back pairs occupy very nearly two oppositely directed spatial modes, a promising feature for future quantum optics experiments.
We investigate the atom-optical analog of degenerate four-wave mixing by colliding two Bose-Einstein condensates of metastable helium. The momentum distribution of the scattered atoms is measured in three dimensions. A simple analogy with photon phase matching conditions suggests a spherical final distribution. We find, however, that it is an ellipsoid with radii smaller than the initial collision momenta. Numerical and analytical calculations agree with this and reveal the interplay between many-body effects, mean-field interaction, and the anisotropy of the source condensate.
Low energy elastic scattering between clouds of Bose condensed atoms leads to the well known sss-wave halo with atoms emerging in all directions from the collision zone. In this paper we discuss the emergence of Hanbury Brown and Twiss coincidences between atoms scattered in nearly parallel directions. We develop a simple model that explains the observations in terms of an interference involving two pairs of atoms each associated with the elementary sss-wave scattering process.