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Quantum and Semiclassical Optics Journal of the European Optical Society Part B

Calculation of the efficiencies and phase shifts associated with an adiabatic transfer atom interferometer

Giovanna Morigi, P. D. Featonby, G. S. Summy, Christopher J. Foot

Published Jun 1, 1996• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have performed calculations to assess the phase shifts and efficiency of an adiabatic transfer process using orthogonal linearly and circularly polarized laser beams of the same frequency. By using this type of adiabatic transfer as the `optical' elements of an atom interferometer, atoms can be kept in a magnetically insensitive state for the majority of the time, thus reducing the phase shifts associated with magnetic fields. We have looked at the effect of different pulse shapes, family momenta and the relative peak intensities of the laser beams. We find that the best compromise between transfer efficiency and accumulated phase shift occurs when the linearly polarized laser beam has a lower peak intensity than that of the circular beam.

DOI
10.1088/1355-5111/8/3/024

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We have observed momentum transfer in cesium atoms using the process of adiabatic transfer between dark states. We have investigated the sensitivity of this process to Zeeman shifts and to the differences between the translational energies of the states involved. We have shown that, for a chosen velocity class, the resultant phase shifts of the magnetic substates can be canceled so a dark state is maintained. Two different laser polarization configurations were used to perform the experiments: two circularly polarized beams or a linearly and a circularly polarized beam. Results for each are presented. Finally we discuss the relevance of our results to atomic interferometry and consider methods to minimize the possible phase shifts introduced in an atomic interferometer based upon adiabatic transfer. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
The uniformity of the intensity and the phase of laser beams is crucial to high-performance atom interferometers. Inhomogeneities in the laser intensity profile cause contrast reductions and systematic effects in interferometers operated with atom sources at micro-Kelvin temperatures and detrimental diffraction phase shifts in interferometers using large momentum transfer beam splitters. We report on the implementation of a so-called top-hat laser beam in a long-interrogation-time cold-atom interferometer to overcome the issue of inhomogeneous laser intensity encountered when using Gaussian laser beams. We characterize the intensity and relative phase profiles of the top-hat beam and demonstrate its gain in atom-optic efficiency over a Gaussian beam, in agreement with numerical simulations. We discuss the application of top-hat beams to improve the performance of different architectures of atom interferometers.
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Atom interferometry relies on the separation and recombination of atom wavepackets. When the two paths overlap perfectly at the end of the interferometer, the phase is insensitive to the atomic velocity distribution. Here, we show that, when the separation and recombination is performed using a Raman transition there is a displacement of the atomic wavepacket due to a phase shift during light pulses. Because of the variation of the laser intensity seen by the atoms, there is an imperfect cancellation of these displacements. The observation of a velocity-dependent phase shift on the interferometer is the signature of this effect, which has been modeled. Thanks to the signature we have identified, we are able to compensate for this effect by applying laser power ramps during the interferometer to mitigate intensity variations.
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We demonstrate that for atom interferometers with lasers serving as beam splitters state independence (including freedom from Doppler effects) of the phase shift is obtained if the paths of the two interfering beams are closed and have obtained the same momentum transfer. This is also the case when the center-of-mass motion of the atoms is subject to a constant force field (acceleration). Among these interferometers the one with the simplest geometry is deduced for which the phase shift does not depend on acceleration. Its remaining sensitivity to rotation is discussed. Finally the geometry of a state-independent interferometer that is practically insensitive to both acceleration and rotation is worked out. As an application its relevance for the detection of the influence of space-time curvature on the atomic motion is studied. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.