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Toward an experiment of matter-wave interferometry based on strontium

Robert, Paul

Published Oct 4, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Atom interferometry is a formidable tool to explore both fundamental and applied physics. While earlier research mainly concentrated on alkali atoms, there has been a rising interest in leveraging the clock transition of alkaline-earth-like atoms, specifically strontium. Consequently, a few atom interferometers utilizing strontium have been established worldwide in the last years.The primary focus of this work is twofold: firstly, to develop a compact and high-flux source of cold 88Sr atoms utilizing a novel Zeeman slower, a technique that efficiently decelerates the atomic thermal beam produced by an oven using lasers and magnetic fields. Secondly, the study explores the foundational aspects of an atom interferometer based on 88Sr.

DOI
10.70675/0c72da70zdfbaz4200zaf65zc6a05232048f

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Atom interferometry is a formidable tool to explore both fundamental and applied physics. While earlier research mainly concentrated on alkali atoms, there has been a rising interest in leveraging the clock transition of alkaline-earth-like atoms, specifically strontium. Consequently, a few atom interferometers utilizing strontium have been established worldwide in the last years.The primary focus of this work is twofold: firstly, to develop a compact and high-flux source of cold 88Sr atoms utilizing a novel Zeeman slower, a technique that efficiently decelerates the atomic thermal beam produced by an oven using lasers and magnetic fields. Secondly, the study explores the foundational aspects of an atom interferometer based on 88Sr.
Mise en place d'une expérience d'interférométrie atomique basée sur le strontium L'interférométrie atomique est un outil formidable pour explorer à la fois la physique fondamentale et appliquée. Alors que les recherches antérieures se concentraient principalement sur les atomes alcalins, un intérêt croissant s'est porté sur l'utilisation de la transition d'horloge des atomes similaires aux alcalino-terreux, en particulier le strontium. Par conséquent, quelques interféromètres atomiques utilisant du strontium ont été mis en place dans le monde entier au cours des dernières années.Le principal objectif de ce travail est double : premièrement, développer une source compacte et à haut flux d'atomes froids de 88Sr en utilisant un nouveau ralentisseur Zeeman , une technique qui permet de décélérer efficacement le faisceau atomique thermique produit par un four en utilisant des lasers et des champs magnétiques. Deuxièmement, cette thèse explore les aspects fondamentaux d'un interféromètre atomique basé sur l'isotope 88 du strontium.
Atom interferometry is a maturing quantum technology which provides one of the most precise approaches to explore fundamental physics, e.g. to search for dark matter, and one day to observe gravitational waves in the frequency range from 10 mHz - 10 Hz. Standard atom interferometers use Bragg or Raman two-photon transitions for the coherent manipulation of matter waves. In a Michelson configuration for atom-aided gravitational waves detection, two orthogonal arms are built to reject laser noise, in the same way as optical interferometers. Atom interferometers utilizing an optical clock transition for coherent manipulation are less affected by the technical noise of the laser, and as a result that single baseline detectors become feasible.At LP2N, we are building a vertical gravity-gradiometer based on atom interferometry using strontium atoms probed on such a clock transition. The final experimental setup will implement a 6-meter tall atomic fountain to realize gradiometry with two or more separated atomic clouds.In my dissertation, I present the realization of the experimental setup in all its sub-systems, and the first experiments with atoms at millikelvin temperature obtained with the first cooling stage with blue light. The laser system for the second red cooling phase and for the coherent manipulation is ready; meanwhile, we realized a dual-frequency Zeeman slower that improves the atomic flux by a factor of six. We also present a study of an original scheme to achieve pulsed and fast light-atom interaction in a narrow-linewidth cavity by exploiting the Stark shift as a high bandwidth switch; this technique could open to the use of narrow-linewidth cavities – and notably their high power buildup - in several contexts, like atom interferometry and quantum information.
Matter-wave interferometers operating as clocks and gravimeters allow for precision measurements of time and gravity at unprecedented levels. In all these sensors, the exquisite control of both the internal (electronic) and external (center-of-mass motion) degrees of freedom of ultracold atomic samples enable interactions at their most basic, quantum level to be studied, paving the way for new tests of fundamental physics. For all these applications, novel interferometric schemes based on the narrow intercombination transitions of alkali-earth (and alkali-earth like) atoms have recently gained considerable attention. Here we present the work towards the realization of a simultaneous atom interferometer with cadmium and strontium atoms and the potential physics such a system could explore, along the idea of the ERC - “TICTOCGRAV” EU research project. In particular, we present the design and implementation of the high-power UV laser sources necessary for performing atom interferometry with cadmium and the prospects for developing a high-flux, cold source of cadmium. Potential applications of a simultaneous cadmium and strontium atom interferometer, including to weak equivalence principle and quantum time dilation tests, are discussed.
We report on design and construction of a Zeeman slower for strontium atoms which will be used in an optical atomic clock experiment. The paper describes briefly required specifications of the device, possible solutions, and concentrates on the chosen design. The magnetic field produced by the built Zeeman slower has been measured and compared with the simulations. The system consisting of an oven and Zeeman slower are designed to produce an atomic beam of 10-12 s-1 flux and final velocity of ~30 m/s.
The utilization of light-pulse atom interferometry presents a valuable technique that has found application in both fundamental scientific inquiries, such as investigating constants such as measurements of fine structure constant α and gravitational constant G, and practical endeavors including acceleration sensing and rotation measurements. This thesis delves into our implementation of a dual atom interferometer design involving the clock transition 1S0 → 3P0 in strontium, concurrently conducting the interferometric sequence on atoms in both ground and excited states. To facilitate the dual atom interferometer’s operation, we have firstly established a compact experimental setup with a transversely loaded bi-dimensional magneto-optical-trap (2D-MOT) to create a high flux source of cold strontium atoms. Introducing a novel cross-polarized bi-color atomic beam slower, we simultaneously addresses two excited Zeeman substates of the transition 1S0 → 1P1 in strontium-88, significantly enhancing the number of atoms prepared in the 461 nm MOT by around 10-fold. Following the 461 nm MOT, the atomic ensemble undergoes cooling in a 689 nm MOT, achieving atomic temperatures below 1 µK. We also install a network of eight magnetic field probes arranged around the cold atomic sample, enabling precise three-axis active control of magnetic fields down to the milligauss level. With the atoms confined in a 2D lattice at the magic-wavelength of 813.427 nm after the initial preparation phase, we conduct the magnetically-induced clock transition to create a statistical mixture state of ground and excited states. After a velocity selection stage, implementing a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with Bragg pulses operating at the magic-wavelength along the vertical axis, we conduct tests of the weak equivalence principle (WEP). The Eötvös ratio we found in our system stood at (1.8 ± 3.1) × 10−4, mainly limited by the finite temperature of the atomic cloud constraining the interrogation time. Furthermore, the dual atom interferometer scheme enables the measurement of state-dependent force and eventually polarizability difference via the phase shift between the atoms in different states, and we experimentally demonstrate this by introducing an additional light field gradient.