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Physical Review A

Atomic interferences in a comoving magnetic field

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

Published Oct 1, 1997• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.56.2954

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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.
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.
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.