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Europhysics Letters (EPL)

A quantum trampoline for ultra-cold atoms

Martin Robert-De-Saint-Vincent, Jean-Philippe Brantut, Ch. J. Bordé, Alain Aspect, Thomas Bourdel, Philippe Bouyer

Published Jan 1, 2010• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have observed the interferometric suspension of a free-falling Bose-Einstein condensate periodically submitted to multiple-order diffraction by a vertical 1D standing wave. This scheme permits simultaneously the compensation of gravity and coherent splitting/recombination of the matter waves. It results in high-contrast interference in the number of atoms detected at constant height. For long suspension times, multiple-wave interference is revealed through a sharpening of the fringes. We characterize our atom interferometer and use it to measure the acceleration of gravity.

DOI
10.1209/0295-5075/89/10002

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We have observed the interferometric suspension of a free-falling Bose-Einstein condensate periodically submitted to multiple-order diffraction by a vertical 1D standing wave. The various diffracted matter waves recombine coherently, resulting in high contrast interference in the number of atoms detected at constant height. For long suspension times, multiple-wave interference is revealed through a sharpening of the fringes. We use this scheme to measure the acceleration of gravity.

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•Jan 1, 2026•0 citations
We have observed the interferometric suspension of a free-falling Bose-Einstein condensate periodically submitted to multiple-order diffraction by a vertical 1D standing wave. This scheme permits simultaneously the compensation of gravity and coherent splitting/recombination of the matter waves. It results in high-contrast interference in the number of atoms detected at constant height. For long suspension times, multiple-wave interference is revealed through a sharpening of the fringes. We characterize our atom interferometer and use it to measure the acceleration of gravity.
Atoms from a (87)Rb condensate are suspended against gravity using repeated reflections from a pulsed optical standing wave. Up to 100 reflections are observed, yielding suspension times of over 100 ms. The local gravitational acceleration can be determined from the pulse rate required to achieve suspension. Further, a gravitationally sensitive atom interferometer was implemented using the suspended atoms. This technique could potentially provide a precision measurement of gravity without requiring the atoms to fall a large distance.
Atoms from an otherwise unconfined 87Rb condensate are shown to be suspended against gravity using repeated reflections from a pulsed optical standing wave. Reflection efficiency was optimized using a triple-pulse sequence that, theoretically, provides accuracies better than 99.9%. Experimentally, up to 100 reflections are observed, leading to dynamical suspension for over 100 ms. The velocity sensitivity of the reflections can be used to determine the local gravitational acceleration. Further, a gravitationally sensitive atom interferometer was implemented using the suspended atoms, with packet coherence maintained for a similar time. These techniques could be useful for the precise measurement of gravity when it is impractical to allow atoms to fall freely over a large distance.
Cold atom free-fall interferometers now realize state-of-the-art precision inertial sensors, opening perspectives towards embedded devices for applications and fundamental physics tests on earth and in space. The acceleration of gravity can be measured in a stimulated Raman transition interferometer where the acceleration under gravity of a cloud of freely falling atoms is sensed by three Raman pulses allowing to split, reflect and interfere atomic wave packets [1]. The gravimeter developped at SYRTE allows to measure the acceleration of gravity at state-of-the-art performances compared to the best classical absolute gravimeters, with a sensitivity of 2×10−8g over 1s and an exactitude of 5×10−9 g [2]. This exactitude is currently limited by wavefront aberrations of the lasers, sampled by residual transverse trajectories of the molasse-cooled cloud over the free fall. Unbalanced transverse trajectories will also bias the measurement due to Coriolis effect [3]. We will investigate the use of a colder atom source to reduce these systematic effects, by implementing Bose-Einstein condensation of the initial cloud, allowing both better position control and better focusing of our source.
The splitting and subsequent re-overlapping of a coherent light beam provides the basis for exquisitely sensitive detection of path-length differences; this technique of optical interferometry finds applications ranging from stellar observations to holographic imaging and characterization of optical components. Analogously, the cooling of a cloud of bosonic atoms into a Bose-Einstein condensate, a state in which all the atoms share the same quantum state, is described in terms of a coherent matter wave. Because atoms sense gravity, the interference of matter waves can then be used to provide a sensitive gravity detector, with a comparably diverse set of applications ranging from testing relativity to detecting underground bunkers. Unlike photons, however, which do not interact much with each other, the atoms in the trapped cloud do interact by way of collisions. These collisions then give rise to losses and induce shifts in the phase of the matter wave, thereby limiting the sensitivity of any atom interferometer. Gustavsson et al. and Fattori et al. present setups in which the interaction strength between the atoms in the condensate (cesium and potassium, respectively) is tuned via magnetic field so that the scattering between the atoms is significantly reduced. The resulting extension of the matter-wave coherence time leads to improved sensitivity of the atom interferometers. — ISO
Inertial navigation systems are vital for modern society, be it on airplanes or in the context of autonomous mobility. On the other hand atom interferometers are exquisite measurement devices for inertia in fundamental physics and field applications, but are mostly limited to measuring one inertial observable. By utilizing time averaged optical potentials, the ultra-cold atomic ensemble input to the interferometer can be prepared in nearly arbitrary fashion. This results in a boost of preparation speed and number of atoms in the interferometer by increasing the size of the trap to match the size of the pre-cooled ensemble for optimal loading. Successive fast reduction of the extend of the trap leads to optimal evaporation efficiency and leads to increased sensitivity of the device, due to reduced cycle time of the experiment and increased atom number. Beyond this, the technique allows for new sensor geometries via the creation of multiple single wells, allowing for differential atom interferometry with numerous simultaneous interferometers. In this thesis, the first matter-wave analogue of a classical accelerometer array is implemented via the creation of a 3 × 3 array of Bose-Einstein condensates, consisting of 3 × 105 atoms and spanning a total area of 1.6 mm2 . Successive manipulation of the matter-waves with atom optics, coherently addressing the momentum states of the ensembles, allows for splitting, redirecting and readout pulses, realizing Mach-Zehnder type atom interferometers. Correlation of the nine 1D-acceleration measurements output by the interferometers yields measurements of linear acceleration, Euler- and centrifugal acceleration. The estimated sensitivity limits per shot are 6 × 10−5m s−2 for linear acceleration, 0.19 rad s − 2 for rotational acceleration and 203 mrad s−1 for rotation rate and are mainly limited due to the short free fall time of the ensembles, constrained by the atom optics light field. The correlation also allowed to determine the rotation center, being close to the retro reflection mirror of the atom optics light field. Crucial for the realization of this measurement was the implementation of time averaged potentials as stated above, facilitated through two 2D acousto-optical deflectors and a software defined radio, allowing for generating the required RF-signals. The techniques to simultaneously load and evaporate multiple ensembles into distinct traps from a single cloud of cold atoms and subsequently enlarge the spacing between the ensembles with adiabatic transport ramps are of highest interest for e.g. the Very Long Baseline Atom Interferometer facility in Hannover. Due to the correlated outputs systematic errors, such as wave front abberations, can be nullified. Furthermore the scheme can be extended to 3D matter-wave arrays, fulfilling all requirements necessary for an autonomous inertial measurement unit.