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Journal de Physique II

Angular correlation measurements in a thermal beam of H* (2s) atoms using a Stern-Gerlach atomic axicon

Jacques Robert, Christian Miniatura, Síle Nic Chormaic, J. B. Lawson-Daku, O. Gorceix, F. Perales, J. Baudon

Published Nov 1, 1994• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The effect of transverse magnetic gradients in Stern-Gerlach atom interferometry is to make interfere plane waves the momenta of which differ in their directions. As a result the contrast of the interference pattern produced by the longitudinal gradient is attenuated by an angular auto-correlation function in the momentum space. This effect is studied experimentally on a thermal beam of metastable H* (2s) atoms, with a radial transverse gradient (atomic “axicon”).

DOI
10.1051/jp2:1994247

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The effect of transverse magnetic gradients in Stern-Gerlach atom interferometry is to make interfere plane waves the momenta of which differ in their directions. As a result the contrast of the interference pattern produced by the longitudinal gradient is attenuated by an angular auto-correlation function in the momentum space. This effect is studied experimentally on a thermal beam of metastable H* (2s) atoms, with a radial transverse gradient (atomic “axicon”).
A quadrupolar static magnetic field used as a phase object in a Stern-Gerlach atom interferometer produces phase shifts proportional to the distance to the zero-field line. As a consequence the transverse intensity profile of the atomic beam beyond the interferometer is modulated by an interference pattern which is a ``phase portrait'' of the field configuration. This pattern---a central bright spot surrounded by annular fringes---can be translated as a whole in any transverse direction by adding a homogeneous field to the quadrupolar field. These effects have been investigated experimentally with a beam of metastable hydrogen atoms H∗(2s),{\mathrm{H}}^{*}(2s),H∗(2s), either by measuring the atom flux through a fixed slit or by scanning the beam profile through a movable hole. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.
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.
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.