Multiple atomic wave interferometry with standing-waves of light

Ernst Maria Rasel, Markus K. Oberthaler, Herman Batelaan +3 more

Jun Ishikawa, F. Riehle, J. Helmcke +1 more

We have investigated both theoretically and experimentally saturated absorption of a long-lifetime transition in a calcium atomic beam excited either by a standing wave or by two counterpropagating traveling waves. For standing-wave excitation the usual saturation dip is turned into a peak and then evolves into a triplet as the laser intensity is increased. A theoretical framework has been developed to account for the interaction of atoms with multiple-wave excitation based on a combination of free propagators and S matrices, also applicable to atomic interferometry. The shapes of the wave packets prepared by optical beam splitters are derived. The experimental size and shape of the absorption signal are reproduced by theory only when the actual laser profile is accurately represented and if the recoil physics is introduced because of multiple momentum exchanges between atoms and light in strong laser fields.

S. A. Lee, David M. Giltner

The method of Bragg scattering from a standing light wave for splitting atoms coherently into two beams is discussed. An interferometer for atoms is demonstrated by Bragg deflection of a beam of collimated metastable neon atoms from three standing light waves. Possibility of using the interferometer in nanolithography is discussed.

Zheng-dong LIU

Martin Weitz, Tobias Heupel, Theodor W. Hänsch

Ernst Maria Rasel, Markus K. Oberthaler, Herman Batelaan +2 more

We have developed a novel interferometer for atom de Broglie waves, where amplitude division and recombination is achieved by diffraction at standing light waves operating as phase gratings. Our new atom interferometer is the exact mirror image of interferometers for light, with the roles of atoms and photons interchanged, and it directly demonstrates coherence of the diffraction of atomic waves at standing light waves. Easy manipulation of the phase, intensity, and polarization of the standing light wave permits novel studies of atomic coherence properties.