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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)

High-contrast spatial interference of BECs

Chris H. Carson, Mateusz E. Zawadzki, Paul F. Griffin, Erling Riis, Aidan S. Arnold

Published May 1, 2013• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We use magnetic levitation [1-3] and a variable-separation dual optical plug [4] to obtain clear spatial interference between two BECs axially separated by up to 0.25mm. Fringes are observed using standard (i.e. non-tomographic) resonant absorption imaging. The `magnifying' effect of a weak inverted parabola potential on fringe separation is observed and agrees well with theory [4]. With 160ms levitation we recently observed single-shot interference contrasts of 95% (see 1.5×0.75mm absorption image below), close to the theoretical limit due to pixellation of the sinusoidal fringes on our CCD camera. Interference patterns with fringe periods of 85microns (individual de Broglie wavelengths of 170microns) are possible with 200ms levitation.

DOI
10.1109/cleoe-iqec.2013.6801746

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We use magnetic levitation [1-3] and a variable-separation dual optical plug [4] to obtain clear spatial interference between two BECs axially separated by up to 0.25mm. Fringes are observed using standard (i.e. non-tomographic) resonant absorption imaging. The `magnifying' effect of a weak inverted parabola potential on fringe separation is observed and agrees well with theory [4]. With 160ms levitation we recently observed single-shot interference contrasts of 95% (see 1.5×0.75mm absorption image below), close to the theoretical limit due to pixellation of the sinusoidal fringes on our CCD camera. Interference patterns with fringe periods of 85microns (individual de Broglie wavelengths of 170microns) are possible with 200ms levitation.
Magnetic levitation is used to obtain clear spatial interference between two Bose-Einstein condensates which are initially axially separated. Fringes with periods of up to 85 µm are observed using standard (non-tomographic) resonant absorption imaging, utilising the `magnifying' effect of a weak axial inverted parabolic potential [1]. With 160ms levitation [2], and careful choice of probe detuning, single-shot interference contrast of > 95% is observed (Fig. 1a) - close to the theoretical limit caused by CCD camera pixellation of the sinusoidal fringes. In addition, we observe dramatic variation of the fringe contrast as a function of camera focal position due to the spatial Talbot effect.
We use magnetic levitation and a variable-separation dual optical plug to obtain clear spatial interference between two condensates axially separated by up to 0.250.250.25 mm---the largest separation observed with this kind of interferometer. Clear planar fringes are observed using standard (i.e., nontomographic) resonant absorption imaging. The effect of a weak inverted parabola potential on fringe separation is observed and agrees well with theory.
In this experiment, pseudonondiffracting Bessel-like intensity distributions were generated by refractive axicons at extremely weak illumination and detected by an electron multiplication CCD (EMCCD) camera (iXon, Andor) without an image intensifier. The successive growth of Bessel-like interference fringes from noise can clearly be recognized without image processing. The results of the interference experiment confirm the non-local quantum mechanical nature of single photon diffraction. In contrast to the Young's setup with a diffracting double slit, the interference from refracted beams was observed in the near-field instead of the far field.
We have demonstrated direct imaging of interference fringes of total atomic density with periods $\ensuremath{\lambda}∕4$ and $\ensuremath{\lambda}∕2$ for optical wavelength $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ that have been produced in a de Broglie wave atom interferometer. The imaging was done by means of an ``optical mask'' technique, which allowed us to observe subwavelength periodic patterns with a resolution of up to $\ensuremath{\lambda}∕16$. In addition, the dependence of the fringe pattern on the recoil phase and pulse area reveals quantum dynamics in the atomic center-of-mass motion. The behavior of the fringe patterns near the interference times distinguishes the effects of phase gratings from those of amplitude gratings.