Multiple beam atom interferometer: theory and experiment

H. Hinderthür, F. Ruschewitz, N. Schaffrath +3 more

Martin Weitz, Tobias Heupel, Theodor W. Hänsch

Michael Mei, Síle Nic Chormaic, Sebastian Fray +1 more

Atom Zh. Muradyan

Abstract Near-resonant Kapitza–Dirac diffraction theory is extended out of familiar Raman–Nath approximation. New solutions with initial superposition of equidistant momentum states, applied to one- and two-optical grating atom interferometer schemes, reveals certain output patterns, usable as large-area multiple beam atom interferometer.

Martin Weitz, Tobias Heupel, Theodor W. Hänsch

We report on the demonstration of a multiple beam atom interferometer. While in conventional two-beam atom interferometers a sinusoidal fringe pattern is observed, the fringe pattern measured here resembles the more sharply peaked Airy function known, e.g., from an optical Fabry–Perot resonator. This technique promises to yield an increased precision in atom inter-ferometric measurements of, e.g., rotation or gravitation, since the obtained interference fringes are sharper than those of the corresponding two-beam atom interferometer.

Hermann Uys, John D. Perreault, Alexander D. Cronin

Decoherence due to scattering from background gas particles is observed for the first time in a Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer, and compared with decoherence due to scattering photons. A single theory is shown to describe decoherence due to scattering either atoms or photons. Predictions from this theory are tested by experiments with different species of background gas, and also by experiments with different collimation restrictions on an atom beam interferometer.