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Physical Review A

Time-domain high-finesse atom interferometry

H. Hinderthür, F. Ruschewitz, H.-J. Lohe, S. Lechte, K. Sengstock, Wolfgang A. Ertmer

Published Mar 1, 1999• 29 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.59.2216

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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.
Summary form only given.Atom interferometers have opened up new areas of fundamental and applied research. As well known from photon optics, multiple-beam interferometers offer an increased sensitivity on the relative phases between interfering waves. Very recently, first atomic multiple-beam interferometers were realized. These concepts are based on an atomic beam that is spatially split into coherent partial de Broglie waves, where the number of interfering waves is determined by the internal atomic multi-level scheme. We report on time-domain atomic interferometry within a two-level system.
In recent years interferometry with atoms has opened up many applications within the fields of precision measurements of atomic properties and fundamental constants, the investigation of quantum mechanical effects and the realization of atomic frequency standards.In this work novel concepts and physical prospects of atom interferometry -based on light for the atomic beamsplitting process -are discussed and analyzed.As analogous to light optics the sensitivity of an atom interferometer can be improved by increasing the number of partial waves taking part in the interference process.In this work two basically different schemes for the realization of atomic multiple-beam interferences have been developed and investigated.The increased sensitivity for measurements of external potentials has been demonstrated with a new atomic three-beam interferometer.A time-domain multiple-beam interferometer for the first time yields Fabry-Perot like interference signals with high finesse.In the presented experiments these signals correspond to interference of 160 partial atomic waves.By this means the principle of multiple-beam interferometry, which is an important standard tool in light optics, has been successfully transferred to atom optics.Furthermore different schemes have been developed which base on an extension of the interferometric beamsplitting mechanism from the excitation of two to four internal atomic levels.These schemes represent an inclusion of the atomic polarization as an additional degree of freedom.This opens the possibility for more efficient interferometer geometries.These novel interferometers show a contrast which is increased by about 65% and improved accuracy in the determination of the exact line center.In addition polarized atoms in an interferometer offer very interesting prospects concerning the investigation of fundamental quantum mechanical aspects.In this work a detailed proposal for the systematic observation of a wavefunction collapse within a longitudinal atom interferometer is discussed.It turns out that for certain parameters this observation represents a so-called interaction-free quantum measurement.Besides the experimental realization each interferometer scheme described in this work has also been subjected to theoretical investigations.The corresponding calculations are based on a matrix-algorithm by Bordé yielding analytical expressions for the interference signals.With respect to the application of atom interferometers as optical frequency standards the results of this work open various prospects for strongly improved future precision measurements.Atominterferometrie, Laserkühlung, Spektroskopie Zusammenfassung Die Interferometrie mit Atomen hat in den letzten Jahren ein weitreichendes Anwendungsfeld im Bereich der Präzisionsmessung von atomaren Eigenschaften und Naturkonstanten, des Studiums quantenmechanischer Effekte und der Realisierung atomarer Frequenzstandards erschlossen.Die vorliegende Arbeit diskutiert und analysiert neuartige Konzepte und physikalische Perspektiven der Atominterferometrie, die Licht als Strahlteiler für die Materiewellen einsetzen.Analog zur Lichtoptik kann die Empfindlichkeit eines Atominterferometers durch Erhöhung der Anzahl interferierender Teilwellen enorm gesteigert werden.In dieser Arbeit wurden zwei grundsätzlich verschiedene Konzepte zur Realisierung atomarer Vielstrahl-Interferenzen entwickelt und untersucht.Anhand eines stationären atomaren Dreistrahl-Interferometers wurde dabei die gesteigerte Empfindlichkeit für die Messung externer Potentiale demonstriert.Ein gepulstes Vielstrahl-Interferometer im Zeitraum liefert Fabry-Perotähnliche Signale hoher Finesse, die in den vorgestellten Experimenten durch Interferenz von bis zu 160 atomaren Teilwellen entstehen.Als wesentliches Ergebnis dieser Arbeit ist es damit gelungen, das Prinzip der Vielstrahl-Interferenz, die in der Lichtoptik schon lange unentbehrliches Werkzeug ist, auf die Atomoptik zu übertragen.Es wurden darüberhinaus neuartige Schemata konzipiert und verwirklicht, die den interferometrischen Strahlteilungsmechanismus durch kohärente Anregung von vier statt lediglich zwei internen atomaren Zuständen in Flexibilität und Effizienz deutlich erweitern.Die Polarisation der Atome im Interferometer wird dadurch als zusätzlicher Freiheitsgrad miteinbezogen.Es werden so neue Interferometergeometrien möglich, die sich durch einen um bis zu 65% verbesserten Signalkontrast sowie eine erhöhte Genauigkeit in der Bestimmung der absoluten Linienmitte auszeichnen.Polarisierte Atome im Interferometer bieten aber auch interessante Perspektiven für die Untersuchung grundlegender quantenmechanischer Fragestellungen.In diesem Zusammenhang wird ein konkreter Vorschlag für ein Experiment mit Modellcharakter entwickelt, das die systematische Beobachtung des "Kollaps" einer Wellenfunktion innerhalb eines rein longitudinalen Atominterferometers ermöglicht und für bestimmte Parameter eine sogenannte "Wechselwirkungsfreie Quantenmessung" darstellt.Alle untersuchten interferometrischen Anordnungen wurden auf der Basis eines Matrixformalismus nach Bordé theoretisch beschrieben und sind damit auch analytisch vergleichbar.Die im Rahmen dieser Arbeit gewonnenen Erkenntnisse zur Interferometrie eröffnen -vor allem im Hinblick auf die Realisierung eines Frequenzstandards an lasergekühlten Atomen -ein breites Spektrum für weitergehende, verbesserte Präzisionsmessungen.
We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms. Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse. In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling. This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance. This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.
We demonstrate matter-wave interference in a warm vapor of rubidium atoms.Established approaches to light-pulse atom interferometry rely on laser cooling to concentrate a large ensemble of atoms into a velocity class resonant with the atom optical light pulse.In our experiment, we show that clear interference signals may be obtained without laser cooling.This effect relies on the Doppler selectivity of the atom interferometer resonance.This interferometer may be configured to measure accelerations, and we demonstrate that multiple interferometers may be operated simultaneously by addressing multiple velocity classes.
We observe the build-up of a matter wave interference pattern from single atom detection events in a double-slit experiment. The interference arises from two overlapping atom laser beams extracted from a rubidium Bose-Einstein condensate. Our detector is a high-finesse optical cavity which realizes a quantum measurement of the presence of an atom and thereby projects delocalized atoms into a state with zero or one atom in the resonator. The experiment reveals simultaneously the granular and the wave nature of matter. We present a setup which is suited for applications in atom interferometry and cavity QED.