Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Europhysics Letters (EPL)

Single and double interaction zone with comoving fields in Stern-Gerlach atom interferometry

K. Brodsky, Renaud Mathevet, B. J. Lawson-Daku, J. Baudon, Jacques Robert

Published Oct 15, 1998• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present two applications of the use, in Stern-Gerlach interferometry with metastable hydrogen atoms, of comoving magnetic fields, i.e. fields travelling at atomic velocites, which could allow us to reach the slow-atom domain. In the first application, atoms interact with a single extended zone of comoving B -field. A velocity coherent filtering effect is demonstrated and characterized. In the second one, atoms interact with a double zone of comoving B -field. This Ramsey's type configuration takes advantage of the fact that the sensitivity of the apparatus with respect to velocity changes is significantly enhanced.

DOI
10.1209/epl/i1998-00447-3

Related papers

Atomic interferences in a comoving magnetic field

Renaud Mathevet, K. Brodsky, B. J. Lawson-Daku +3 more

The use of comoving magnetic fields in Stern-Gerlach atom interferometry allows, in principle, one to reach a range of very low kinetic energies (a few tens of neV); it also allows the device to be used as an interference filter for atomic waves. The technique used to produce such fields moving at atomic velocities is described. Experimental interference patterns obtained with a beam of ${\mathrm{H}}^{*}(2S)$ atoms are in good agreement with the calculations, which clearly demonstrates the feasibility of the method.

Physical Review A•Oct 1, 1997•12 citations

Atom interferometer using two Stern-Gerlach magnets

Kenneth H. Rubin, M. Eminyan, F Perales +8 more

An atom interferometer using two Stern-Gerlach magnets as polariser and analyser is described. The interferometer was first operated with a thermal beam of ground state potassium atoms. In that case the beam splitters are two radio-frequency zones within a transverse homogeneous magnetic field building a coherent superposition of Zeeman states. Ramsey fringes are obtained by scanning the RF-frequency through the resonance profile. Pulsing the RF power allows to get the time-of-flight distribution of the beam. Atomic interference fringes (``Stern-Gerlach fringes'') are observed when the magnitude of an inhomogeneous magnetic field located in between the beam splitters is scanned. When the inhomogeneous field is also pulsed, the scalar Bohm-Aharonov effect is observed. The use of metastable helium atoms (He*23S) in place of potassium atoms is proposed. In addition to the usual advantages provided by metastable atoms of high internal energy, this atom offers the specific advantage to behave as an ideal spin-one particle. This allows us to greatly simplify the polarisation scheme of the interferometer. Possible applications involving transversally inhomogeneous magnetic fields are given and limitations due to the finite source size and angular aperture are discussed.

Laser Physics Letters•Mar 9, 2004•12 citations

Double atom interferometer

Renaud Mathevet, K. Brodsky, J. Baudon +4 more

A double atom interferometer based upon the Stern-Gerlach method in which the first interferometer acts as a ``nonordinary'' source for the second one is described. Experiments have been carried out with a wide-velocity-distribution beam of metastable hydrogen atoms, using two different operating modes: (i) continuous mode in which the magnitude of the magnetic field in the first interferometer is fixed whereas that of the second one is scanned; (ii) time-of-flight mode in which both magnetic fields are fixed. In the former case lateral interference patterns appear, in the latter one an overmodulation of the time-of-flight distribution is observed. It is predicted that this overmodulation becomes more and more marked as the number of interferometers is increased, leading to a limiting behavior characteristic of a quantum Zeno effect.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1998•5 citations

Atomic Interferometry with Metastable Hydrogen Atoms

Jacques Robert, Christian Miniatura, S. Le Boiteux +3 more

An atomic interferometer using the longitudinal Stern-Gerlach effect has been constructed. A thermal beam of metastable hydrogen atoms has been used to test the apparatus. Interference patterns have been obtained. The visibility of the fringes is limited by the velocity spread of the beam. The observed patterns are in good agreement with that predicted from the actual velocity distribution.

Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Sep 1, 1991•47 citations

Atomic Stern-Gerlach interferences with time-dependent magnetic fields

Síle Nic Chormaic, Christian Miniatura, O. Gorceix +7 more

In atomic Stern-Gerlach (polarization) interferometry with time-dependent magnetic fields both the spatial and temporal parts of the atomic phase are generally affected. This leads to a total energy shift and to an inelastic momentum transfer. Some of the related effects are studied using a beam of metastable hydrogen atoms. In particular the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect and its nondispersivity are considered, in addition to other phase shift effects occurring where the field gradient differs from zero.

Physical Review Letters•Jan 3, 1994•40 citations

Time selection in atomic Stern-Gerlach interferometry

B. J. Lawson-Daku, Rustam M. Asimov, Síle Nic Chormaic +4 more

As shown recently by Zawisky, Rauch, and Hasegawa in neutron interferometry [Phys. Rev. A 50, 5000 (1994)], the interference pattern obtained with a low-intensity particle beam is deeply modified when a selection is made of the time intervals between successive detected events. Experiments of the same type performed with a Stern-Gerlach interferometer using a metastable hydrogen atom beam are described. Results very similar to those of the neutron experiment are obtained, in particular a strong enhancement of the contrast when large time intervals are selected.

Physical Review A•Sep 1, 1995•3 citations
We present two applications of the use, in Stern-Gerlach interferometry with metastable hydrogen atoms, of comoving magnetic fields, i.e. fields travelling at atomic velocites, which could allow us to reach the slow-atom domain. In the first application, atoms interact with a single extended zone of comoving B -field. A velocity coherent filtering effect is demonstrated and characterized. In the second one, atoms interact with a double zone of comoving B -field. This Ramsey's type configuration takes advantage of the fact that the sensitivity of the apparatus with respect to velocity changes is significantly enhanced.
The use of comoving magnetic fields in Stern-Gerlach atom interferometry allows, in principle, one to reach a range of very low kinetic energies (a few tens of neV); it also allows the device to be used as an interference filter for atomic waves. The technique used to produce such fields moving at atomic velocities is described. Experimental interference patterns obtained with a beam of H∗(2S){\mathrm{H}}^{*}(2S)H∗(2S) atoms are in good agreement with the calculations, which clearly demonstrates the feasibility of the method.
An atom interferometer using two Stern-Gerlach magnets as polariser and analyser is described. The interferometer was first operated with a thermal beam of ground state potassium atoms. In that case the beam splitters are two radio-frequency zones within a transverse homogeneous magnetic field building a coherent superposition of Zeeman states. Ramsey fringes are obtained by scanning the RF-frequency through the resonance profile. Pulsing the RF power allows to get the time-of-flight distribution of the beam. Atomic interference fringes (``Stern-Gerlach fringes'') are observed when the magnitude of an inhomogeneous magnetic field located in between the beam splitters is scanned. When the inhomogeneous field is also pulsed, the scalar Bohm-Aharonov effect is observed. The use of metastable helium atoms (He*23S) in place of potassium atoms is proposed. In addition to the usual advantages provided by metastable atoms of high internal energy, this atom offers the specific advantage to behave as an ideal spin-one particle. This allows us to greatly simplify the polarisation scheme of the interferometer. Possible applications involving transversally inhomogeneous magnetic fields are given and limitations due to the finite source size and angular aperture are discussed.
A double atom interferometer based upon the Stern-Gerlach method in which the first interferometer acts as a ``nonordinary'' source for the second one is described. Experiments have been carried out with a wide-velocity-distribution beam of metastable hydrogen atoms, using two different operating modes: (i) continuous mode in which the magnitude of the magnetic field in the first interferometer is fixed whereas that of the second one is scanned; (ii) time-of-flight mode in which both magnetic fields are fixed. In the former case lateral interference patterns appear, in the latter one an overmodulation of the time-of-flight distribution is observed. It is predicted that this overmodulation becomes more and more marked as the number of interferometers is increased, leading to a limiting behavior characteristic of a quantum Zeno effect.
In atomic Stern-Gerlach (polarization) interferometry with time-dependent magnetic fields both the spatial and temporal parts of the atomic phase are generally affected. This leads to a total energy shift and to an inelastic momentum transfer. Some of the related effects are studied using a beam of metastable hydrogen atoms. In particular the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect and its nondispersivity are considered, in addition to other phase shift effects occurring where the field gradient differs from zero.
As shown recently by Zawisky, Rauch, and Hasegawa in neutron interferometry [Phys. Rev. A 50, 5000 (1994)], the interference pattern obtained with a low-intensity particle beam is deeply modified when a selection is made of the time intervals between successive detected events. Experiments of the same type performed with a Stern-Gerlach interferometer using a metastable hydrogen atom beam are described. Results very similar to those of the neutron experiment are obtained, in particular a strong enhancement of the contrast when large time intervals are selected.