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arXiv:1510.07939 · Physical Review A

Large-momentum-transfer Bragg interferometer with strontium atoms

Tommaso Mazzoni, X. Zhang, R P del Aguila, Leonardo Salvi, N. Poli, Guglielmo Maria Tino

Published Nov 19, 2015• 71 citations
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Abstract

We report on an atom interferometer based on Bragg diffraction in a fountain of alkaline-earth-metal atoms, namely $^{88}\mathrm{Sr}$. We demonstrate large momentum transfer to the atoms up to eight photon recoils and the use of the interferometer as a gravimeter with a sensitivity $\ensuremath{\delta}g/g=4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}$. Thanks to the special characteristics of strontium atoms for precision measurements, this result introduces alternate possibilities for experiments in fundamental and applied physics.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.92.053619

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We present a gradiometer based on matter-wave interference of alkaline-earth-metal atoms, namely 88 Sr. The coherent manipulation of the atomic external degrees of freedom is obtained by large-momentum-transfer Bragg diffraction, driven by laser fields detuned away from the narrow 1 S 0 – 3 P 1 intercombination transition. We use a well-controlled artificial gradient, realized by changing the relative frequencies of the Bragg pulses during the interferometer sequence, in order to characterize the sensitivity of the gradiometer. The sensitivity reaches 1.5 × 10 −5 s −2 for an interferometer time of 20 ms, limited only by geometrical constraints. We observed extremely low sensitivity of the gradiometric phase to magnetic field gradients, approaching a value 10 4 times lower than the sensitivity of alkali-atom based gradiometers, limited by the interferometer sensitivity. An efficient double-launch technique employing accelerated red vertical lattices from a single magneto-optical trap cloud is also demonstrated. These results highlight strontium as an ideal candidate for precision measurements of gravity gradients, with potential application in future precision tests of fundamental physics.
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We report on a trapped atom interferometer based on Bragg diffraction and Bloch oscillations with alkaline-earth-metal atoms. We use a Ramsey--Bord\'e Bragg interferometer with 88Sr^{88}\mathrm{Sr}88Sr atoms combined with Bloch oscillations to extend the interferometer time. Thanks to a long coherence time for Bloch oscillations of 88Sr^{88}\mathrm{Sr}88Sr atoms, we observed interference up to 1 s evolution time in the lattice. A detailed study of decoherence sources during the Bloch phase is also presented. While still limited in sensitivity by lattice lifetime and beam inhomogeneity this result opens the way to high contrast trapped interferometers with extended interrogation time.