We report on experiments of multiple-beam atom interferometry in the time domain. Laser-cooled and trapped atoms interact with atomic ``multiple beam splitters'' realized by time sequences of resonant laser pulses. The output signals of the interferometers show Fabry-Perot-like high-finesse interference structures. The number of interfering de Broglie waves is adjustable and in principle not limited in this scheme. We present the experimental realization of up to 160 interfering partial waves.
We provide an analytical description of the dynamics of an atom in an optical lattice using the method of perturbative adiabatic expansion. A precise understanding of the lattice-atom interaction is essential to taking full advantage of the promising applications that optical lattices offer in the field of atom interferometry. One such application is the implementation of large momentum transfer (LMT) beam splitters that can potentially provide multiple order of magnitude increases in momentum space separations over current technology. We also propose interferometer geometries where optical lattices are used as waveguides for the atoms throughout the duration of the interferometer sequence. Such a technique could simultaneously provide a multiple order of magnitude increase in sensitivity and a multiple order of magnitude decrease in interferometer size for many applications as compared to current state-of-the-art atom interferometers.