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

Construction of a Calcium Matter-Wave Interferometer

Christopher Erickson

Published Jan 1, 2007• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

I describe the construction of a calcium matter-wave interferometer. The interferometer is based on a Ramsey-Borde scheme, and uses a thermal beam of atoms excited by an optical-frequency transition in calcium. In our experiment four pi/2 pulses of light are delivered to the atoms, which split and recombine the wave functions of the atoms. Our experimental design minimizes first-order Doppler shifts, and allows for the cancellation of systematic errors including phase shifts due to rotation and acceleration. I describe the individual components of the interferometer and its assembly. The requirements for the electronics used in the experiment as well as their design and performance are described in great detail. I also give an overview of the techniques used to passively stabilize the laser and optical components. Finally, I report on the current status of the experiment as well as detail future work to be done on the apparatus.

Related papers

Ramsey-Borde Matter-Wave Interferometry with a Thermal Calcium Beam for Optical Frequency Stabilization ≤ 10-16

Judith Olson

This dissertation details the developments of a calcium thermal beam atom interferometer designed to act as an ultra-stable frequency reference over a broad range of timescales. The obtained fractional frequency instabilities of the final apparatus reached ≤ 10−16 after 10's of seconds of averaging without the aid of vibration isolation or significant apparatus temperature stabilization. The vastly superior stability performance of this calcium system compared to other thermal atomic references was facilitated by the enormous atom numbers from the thermal beam, which can be efficiently addressed with Bord\'e-Ramsey spectroscopy on the well-studied (4s2)1S0-(4s4p)3P1 (m=0) clock transition in neutral 40Ca. This method yields interrogation laser frequency dependent interference fringes with a linewidth of 1.6 kHz. This measurement is further enhanced with an electron-shelving detection scheme used for state detection after the interferometry process, causing each excited state atom to emit many hundreds of photons in the detection region. The exceptional instability results from this atom interferometer highlight an underutilized realm of precision measurement science based on relatively simple thermal ensembles. An intuitive understanding of the Bordé-Ramsey process is presented and relevant experimental techniques explained such that this dissertation should prove useful to a broad readership.

•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations

Progress Toward A Thermal Beam Calcium Interferometer

Cristopher Erickson, Dan Christensen, Marshall Van Zijill +3 more

We report on the construction of a next-generation atom interferometer. Our research includes developing passive stabilization techniques, low-noise laser current drivers, high-speed scan-balancing lock circuits, and high-speed, low-noise photo-detecting units. Our efforts have lead to developing an extremely stable laser locked to an ultra-high finesse optical cavity for use in a Ramsey-Borde interferometer scheme. The interferometer itself is based on a thermal calcium beam and will be upgraded in the future to a dual species Ca/Sr interferometer sensitive enough to improve measurements of possible time variance of the fine structure constant. Emphasis is given to the construction of the laser used in developing the interferometer.

•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Calcium-atom interferometer comprised of four copropagating traveling laser beams

Atsuo Morinaga, Yasushi Ohuchi

Four laser beams traveling in the same direction that split and reflect a thermal calcium atomic beam compose an atomic interferometer like the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer. The interference performance of the atomic interferometer was examined by changing the phase of the induced dipole moment in the atomic wave due to the laser beams, or the phase of atomic ``wavepacket'' in an atomic trajectory due to the ac Stark effect. An interference signal with a visibility of more than 15% was obtained. This interferometer will be useful in the detection of weak signals that require a long integration time, since it is less sensitive to the fluctuation of the laser frequency compared with the optical Ramsey atomic interferometer.

Physical Review A•Mar 1, 1995•11 citations

Optical Ramsey spectroscopy in a rotating frame: Sagnac effect in a matter-wave interferometer

F. Riehle, Th. Kisters, A. Witte +2 more

A calcium atomic beam excited in an optical Ramsey geometry was rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the laser beams and the atomic beam. A frequency shift of the Ramsey fringes of several kHz has been measured which is proportional to the rotation frequency of the apparatus and to the distance between the laser beams. The results can be interpreted in three equivalent ways as the Sagnac effect in a calcium-atomic-beam interferometer: in the rotating frame of the laser beams either along straight paths or along the curved trajectories of the atoms, or in the inertial atomic frame.

Physical Review Letters•Jul 8, 1991•540 citations

Achieving High Precision with a Thermal Beam Atom Interferometer

Christopher Erickson, James L. Archibald, Jeremiah Birrell +3 more

We report on the progress of a thermal calcium-beam Ramsey-Bordé atom interferometer. Our efforts have lead to the development of precision electronic and laser systems whose design allows them to be implemented as lab standards.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2008•0 citations

Interferometry with Ca atoms

F. Riehle, P. Kersten, Th. Kisters +3 more

Separated field excitation of a calcium atomic beam using four traveling laser fields represents two distinct atom interferometers utilizing the internal degrees of freedom of the atoms. Phase shifts between the atomic partial waves have been realized by phase shifts of the laser wave fields, by the ac-Stark shift, and by rotation of the interferometer (Sagnac effect). One particular interferometer can be selected by interaction of the atomic waves with extra laser fields. We furthermore report on the preparation of a laser cooled and deflected calcium atomic beam that can be utilized to largely increase the sensitivity of the interferometer.

European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)•Aug 24, 2005•0 citations
I describe the construction of a calcium matter-wave interferometer. The interferometer is based on a Ramsey-Borde scheme, and uses a thermal beam of atoms excited by an optical-frequency transition in calcium. In our experiment four pi/2 pulses of light are delivered to the atoms, which split and recombine the wave functions of the atoms. Our experimental design minimizes first-order Doppler shifts, and allows for the cancellation of systematic errors including phase shifts due to rotation and acceleration. I describe the individual components of the interferometer and its assembly. The requirements for the electronics used in the experiment as well as their design and performance are described in great detail. I also give an overview of the techniques used to passively stabilize the laser and optical components. Finally, I report on the current status of the experiment as well as detail future work to be done on the apparatus.
This dissertation details the developments of a calcium thermal beam atom interferometer designed to act as an ultra-stable frequency reference over a broad range of timescales. The obtained fractional frequency instabilities of the final apparatus reached ≤ 10−16 after 10's of seconds of averaging without the aid of vibration isolation or significant apparatus temperature stabilization. The vastly superior stability performance of this calcium system compared to other thermal atomic references was facilitated by the enormous atom numbers from the thermal beam, which can be efficiently addressed with Bord\'e-Ramsey spectroscopy on the well-studied (4s2)1S0-(4s4p)3P1 (m=0) clock transition in neutral 40Ca. This method yields interrogation laser frequency dependent interference fringes with a linewidth of 1.6 kHz. This measurement is further enhanced with an electron-shelving detection scheme used for state detection after the interferometry process, causing each excited state atom to emit many hundreds of photons in the detection region. The exceptional instability results from this atom interferometer highlight an underutilized realm of precision measurement science based on relatively simple thermal ensembles. An intuitive understanding of the Bordé-Ramsey process is presented and relevant experimental techniques explained such that this dissertation should prove useful to a broad readership.
We report on the construction of a next-generation atom interferometer. Our research includes developing passive stabilization techniques, low-noise laser current drivers, high-speed scan-balancing lock circuits, and high-speed, low-noise photo-detecting units. Our efforts have lead to developing an extremely stable laser locked to an ultra-high finesse optical cavity for use in a Ramsey-Borde interferometer scheme. The interferometer itself is based on a thermal calcium beam and will be upgraded in the future to a dual species Ca/Sr interferometer sensitive enough to improve measurements of possible time variance of the fine structure constant. Emphasis is given to the construction of the laser used in developing the interferometer.
Four laser beams traveling in the same direction that split and reflect a thermal calcium atomic beam compose an atomic interferometer like the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer. The interference performance of the atomic interferometer was examined by changing the phase of the induced dipole moment in the atomic wave due to the laser beams, or the phase of atomic ``wavepacket'' in an atomic trajectory due to the ac Stark effect. An interference signal with a visibility of more than 15% was obtained. This interferometer will be useful in the detection of weak signals that require a long integration time, since it is less sensitive to the fluctuation of the laser frequency compared with the optical Ramsey atomic interferometer.
A calcium atomic beam excited in an optical Ramsey geometry was rotated about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the laser beams and the atomic beam. A frequency shift of the Ramsey fringes of several kHz has been measured which is proportional to the rotation frequency of the apparatus and to the distance between the laser beams. The results can be interpreted in three equivalent ways as the Sagnac effect in a calcium-atomic-beam interferometer: in the rotating frame of the laser beams either along straight paths or along the curved trajectories of the atoms, or in the inertial atomic frame.
Separated field excitation of a calcium atomic beam using four traveling laser fields represents two distinct atom interferometers utilizing the internal degrees of freedom of the atoms. Phase shifts between the atomic partial waves have been realized by phase shifts of the laser wave fields, by the ac-Stark shift, and by rotation of the interferometer (Sagnac effect). One particular interferometer can be selected by interaction of the atomic waves with extra laser fields. We furthermore report on the preparation of a laser cooled and deflected calcium atomic beam that can be utilized to largely increase the sensitivity of the interferometer.