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Journal de Physique II

Magnetic coherences in atom interferometry

J�rg Schmiedmayer, Christopher R. Ekstrom, Michael Chapman, Troy D. Hammond, David E. Pritchard

Published Nov 1, 1994• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have used a separated beam atom interferometer to investigate magnetically-induced phase shifts of the different magnetic substates of the sodium ground state. We have observed periodic rephasing of the 8 independent magnetic substates present in an unpolarized sodium beam as the differential magnetic field is increased on opposite sides of the interferometer. We have also demonstrated that two phase shifts with similar velocity dependences can be used to cancel each other, creating an interference pattern from one magnetic substate although an unpolarized beam is sent into the interferometer. Finally we discuss some applications of these techniques.

DOI
10.1051/jp2:1994245

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We have used a separated beam atom interferometer to investigate magnetically-induced phase shifts of the different magnetic substates of the sodium ground state. We have observed periodic rephasing of the 8 independent magnetic substates present in an unpolarized sodium beam as the differential magnetic field is increased on opposite sides of the interferometer. We have also demonstrated that two phase shifts with similar velocity dependences can be used to cancel each other, creating an interference pattern from one magnetic substate although an unpolarized beam is sent into the interferometer. Finally we discuss some applications of these techniques.
We have constructed an atom interferometer using three 200 nm period transmission gratings. The two interfering portions of each atom’s wave pass on opposite sides of a stretched metal foil. A fringe amplitude of up to 900 cps is observed, which allows us to determine the phase to 15 milliradians in 1 minute. By applying different interactions to the two sides of the interferometer, we have determined the electric polarizability of the ground state of sodium, the coherence length of our beam, and the differential phase shifts and coherences of the different Zeeman ground states in a magnetic field. Some future prospects of separated beam experiments are discussed.
Summary form only given. Spatial coherences are measured by means of a new atom interferometry technique. First, a coherent superposition of the Zeeman components of the atom is built by means of well-controlled magnetic interactions. Second, pulsed inhomogeneous magnetic fields are employed to coherently separate and reunite the atomic substates via the Stern-Gerlach induced forces. Finally, atomic interference fringes are recorded on the state-selected outcoming sample by changing the spatial separation. This method bears strong similarities with the Fourier-transform spectroscopy of light. The interferogram visibility curve yields the atom sample spatial coherences. For example, when the applied magnetic gradients are parallel to the atom trajectory, one gets the coherence length by varying the overlap of the separated wavepackets. Several experiments on cold cesium atoms have been performed and are presented. Furthermore, we have used our magnetic cooling method to prepare the atom cloud upstream from the interferometer. Large enhancements of the coherence length are demonstrated.
We present an atom interferometer based on the interference of three partial matter waves in three different internal and external states. Coherent laser excitation acts as a beamsplitter to create a superposition state of the ground state and two Zeeman sublevels of the metastable state of magnesium atoms. The interference pattern of the output ports shows high contrast and the characteristics of three-beam interferences as known from optical interferometry. In comparison to two-beam interferometry a reduction of the fringe width of (32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8)% is observed. This offers various possibilities for improved measurements of quantum-mechanical phases due to the internal atomic-state sensitive coupling of external potentials. This is demonstrated for the interaction of magnesium atoms with an external magnetic field.
We have observed momentum transfer in cesium atoms using the process of adiabatic transfer between dark states. We have investigated the sensitivity of this process to Zeeman shifts and to the differences between the translational energies of the states involved. We have shown that, for a chosen velocity class, the resultant phase shifts of the magnetic substates can be canceled so a dark state is maintained. Two different laser polarization configurations were used to perform the experiments: two circularly polarized beams or a linearly and a circularly polarized beam. Results for each are presented. Finally we discuss the relevance of our results to atomic interferometry and consider methods to minimize the possible phase shifts introduced in an atomic interferometer based upon adiabatic transfer. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
We have constructed an atom interferometer with interfering beams that are physically isolated by a metal foil. By applying an interaction to one of the two interfering beams, we can measure ground-state energy shifts with a spectroscopic precision of 6.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}14}$ eV/\ensuremath{\surd}min , or 16 Hz/\ensuremath{\surd}min . Applying an electric field to one beam of the interferometer, we have measured the phase shift induced from the quadratic Stark effect. By analyzing these phase shifts, we have determined the ground-state polarizability of sodium, with much improved accuracy, to be 24.11(6)statistical{)}_{\mathrm{statistical}})statistical​(6)systematic{)}_{\mathrm{systematic}})systematic​\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}24}$ cm3{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}cm3.
The $\ensuremath{\pi}$-phase shift between ∣F=1,mF=0⟩|F=1,{m}_{F}=0⟩∣F=1,mF​=0⟩ and ∣F=2,mF=0⟩|F=2,{m}_{F}=0⟩∣F=2,mF​=0⟩ states for an adiabatic rotation of a magnetic field observed in Ramsey atom interferometry arises from the negative sign of the transition amplitude between the ∣1,0⟩|1,0⟩∣1,0⟩ and ∣2,0⟩|2,0⟩∣2,0⟩ states when the wave functions are rotated to the opposite direction. Using a two-photon Raman atom interferometer with a cold ensemble of sodium atoms, the phase shift for a half-rotation of the magnetic field was confirmed to be $\ensuremath{\pi}\text{ }\text{rad}$ with an uncertainty of 4%, and the phase shift for a noncyclic adiabatic rotation of the magnetic field was investigated.