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

Physical Review Letters

Atomic Stern-Gerlach interferences with time-dependent magnetic fields

Síle Nic Chormaic, Christian Miniatura, O. Gorceix, B. Viaris de Lesegno, Jacques Robert, S. Feron, V. Lorent, J. Reinhardt, J. Baudon, Kenneth H. Rubin

Published Jan 3, 1994• 40 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.72.1

Related papers

Dispersive and nondispersive phase shifts in atomic Stern-Gerlach interferometry

O. Gorceix, Jacques Robert, Síle Nic Chormaic +2 more

We present experimental results on metastable hydrogen-beam Stern-Gerlach interferometry using either static magnetic fields or time-dependent magnetic fields. The shared experimental scheme is presented. The dispersive behavior of the induced phase shift in the static situation is evidenced. The time-dependent (pulsed) scheme has provided experimental evidence for an external wave-function phase shift in atom force-free dynamical evolution. This so-called scalar Bohm-Aharonov (SAB) effect is thoroughly investigated. As opposed to the static field case, the nondispersive behavior of the SAB effect is validated. Experiments that mix static and pulsed magnetic fields are performed to reach the provisional goal to test nontrivial phase additivity. In all cases, experimental results are shown to be consistent with theoretical predictions derived from a tentative model including the deterministic magnetic phase shifts as well as additional random shifts due to experimental imperfections.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1994•3 citations

Scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect on cold atom using a time domain atom interferometer

Atsuo Morinaga, K. Shinohara, T. Aoki

The scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect of a time dependent homogeneous magnetic field on neutral cold atoms was demonstrated using a time domain atom interferometer. The interference fringes over the phase shift of more than 200 rad verified the nondispersivity.

Conference on Precision Electromagnetic Measurements•Jun 25, 2003•0 citations

Scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect for ultracold atoms

Kenji Shinohara, T. Aoki, Atsuo Morinaga

The scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect with a time-dependent magnetic field was investigated for ultracold sodium atoms using the time-domain atom interferometer. The 38 interference fringes with almost the same amplitude verified the nondispersivity of this effect. The measured phase shift as a function of the strength of the applied magnetic field agreed with the predicted one within an accuracy of 3%. With a weak magnetic field orthogonal to the quantization axis, the phase shift was in proportion to the variation of the strength of the resultant magnetic field.

Physical Review A•Oct 10, 2002•27 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

Atomic interference patterns in the transverse plane

M. Boustimi, Valerij Bočvarski, B. Viaris de Lesegno +4 more

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 ${\mathrm{H}}^{*}(2s),$ 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.

Physical Review A•Feb 10, 2000•13 citations

Atomic quantum phase studies with a longitudinal Stern-Gerlach interferometer

Jacques Robert, Christian Miniatura, O. Gorceix +4 more

A general description of atomic interferometers in terms of the scattering operator is given. The action of a longitudinal interferometer on an atom described by an incident polarized wavepacket is shown to be equivalent to a frame transformation, leading to a “beaded” atom. The special case of a pure longitudinal gradient of magnetic field and that of a spatially precessing field are examined. An experiment using metastable hydrogen atoms is presented and the results obtained in both situations mentioned above are discussed. Properties of beaded atoms produced by relatively strong fields (∼10 G) are investigated by means of the intensity diagram of their electrically induced radiative decay.

Journal de Physique II•Apr 1, 1992•28 citations
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.
We present experimental results on metastable hydrogen-beam Stern-Gerlach interferometry using either static magnetic fields or time-dependent magnetic fields. The shared experimental scheme is presented. The dispersive behavior of the induced phase shift in the static situation is evidenced. The time-dependent (pulsed) scheme has provided experimental evidence for an external wave-function phase shift in atom force-free dynamical evolution. This so-called scalar Bohm-Aharonov (SAB) effect is thoroughly investigated. As opposed to the static field case, the nondispersive behavior of the SAB effect is validated. Experiments that mix static and pulsed magnetic fields are performed to reach the provisional goal to test nontrivial phase additivity. In all cases, experimental results are shown to be consistent with theoretical predictions derived from a tentative model including the deterministic magnetic phase shifts as well as additional random shifts due to experimental imperfections.
The scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect with a time-dependent magnetic field was investigated for ultracold sodium atoms using the time-domain atom interferometer. The 38 interference fringes with almost the same amplitude verified the nondispersivity of this effect. The measured phase shift as a function of the strength of the applied magnetic field agreed with the predicted one within an accuracy of 3%. With a weak magnetic field orthogonal to the quantization axis, the phase shift was in proportion to the variation of the strength of the resultant magnetic field.
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 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.
A general description of atomic interferometers in terms of the scattering operator is given. The action of a longitudinal interferometer on an atom described by an incident polarized wavepacket is shown to be equivalent to a frame transformation, leading to a “beaded” atom. The special case of a pure longitudinal gradient of magnetic field and that of a spatially precessing field are examined. An experiment using metastable hydrogen atoms is presented and the results obtained in both situations mentioned above are discussed. Properties of beaded atoms produced by relatively strong fields (∼10 G) are investigated by means of the intensity diagram of their electrically induced radiative decay.