A longitudinal stern-gerlach atomic interferometer

Miniatura, Christian; Robert, J.; Boiteux, S. Le; Reinhardt, Joachim; Baudon, J.

doi:10.1007/bf00325378

Cited by 24 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Finally, we briefly compare our experiments to previous work in an elaborate series of SGI experiments over a period of 15 years using metastable atomic beams [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42]44] and, more recently, thermal and ultra-cold alkali atoms [43,45]. A detailed discussion is given in [64].…”

Section: Full-loop Stern-gerlach Interferometermentioning

confidence: 89%

“…We obtain a high full-loop SGI visibility of 95% with a spin interference signal [18,19] by utilizing the highly accurate magnetic fields of an atom chip [6]. Notwithstanding the impressive endeavors of [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first realization of a complete SG interferometer analogous to that originally envisioned a century ago.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stern-Gerlach Interferometry with the Atom Chip

Keil

Machluf

Margalit

et al. 2021

Molecular Beams in Physics and Chemistry

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In this invited review in honor of 100 years since the Stern-Gerlach (SG) experiments, we describe a decade of SG interferometry on the atom chip. The SG effect has been a paradigm of quantum mechanics throughout the last century, but there has been surprisingly little evidence that the original scheme, with freely propagating atoms exposed to gradients from macroscopic magnets, is a fully coherent quantum process. Specifically, no full-loop SG interferometer (SGI) has been realized with the scheme as envisioned decades ago. Furthermore, several theoretical studies have explained why it is a formidable challenge. Here we provide a review of our SG experiments over the last decade. We describe several novel configurations such as that giving rise to the first SG spatial interference fringes, and the first full-loop SGI realization. These devices are based on highly accurate magnetic fields, originating from an atom chip, that ensure coherent operation within strict constraints described by previous theoretical analyses. Achieving this high level of control over magnetic gradients is expected to facilitate technological applications such as probing of surfaces and currents, as well as metrology. Fundamental applications include the probing of the foundations of quantum theory, gravity, and the interface of quantum mechanics and gravity. We end with an outlook describing possible future experiments.

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Section: Full-loop Stern-gerlach Interferometermentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stern-Gerlach Interferometry with the Atom Chip

Keil

Machluf

Margalit

et al. 2021

Molecular Beams in Physics and Chemistry

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“…The full-loop SGI In the following, we describe how we obtain a high full-loop SGI contrast of 95% by using the particularly accurate magnetic fields of an atom chip (28). Following the footsteps of impressive endeavors (29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39), and additional recent scientific advancements with spatial SGIs (15,16), this full-loop SGI (13,14) is, to the best of our knowledge, the first realization of a complete SGI analogous to that originally envisioned.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Realization of a complete Stern-Gerlach interferometer: Toward a test of quantum gravity

et al. 2021

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The Stern-Gerlach effect, found a century ago, has become a paradigm of quantum mechanics. Unexpectedly, until recently, there has been little evidence that the original scheme with freely propagating atoms exposed to gradients from macroscopic magnets is a fully coherent quantum process. Several theoretical studies have explained why a Stern-Gerlach interferometer is a formidable challenge. Here, we provide a detailed account of the realization of a full-loop Stern-Gerlach interferometer for single atoms and use the acquired understanding to show how this setup may be used to realize an interferometer for macroscopic objects doped with a single spin. Such a realization would open the door to a new era of fundamental probes, including the realization of previously inaccessible tests at the interface of quantum mechanics and gravity.

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“…The analysis of Bohm's proposal gave rise to what is known as the Humpty-Dumpty problem [20][21][22] of the coherent recombination of spatially separated partial atomic beams (i.e., the spin-up and spin-down components of the spinor wave function) from an SGA as well as to a plethora of experimental techniques within the domain of matter-wave interferometry, all of which use different approaches to work around the fantastic precision required to realize the original proposal by Bohm. Recent advances in atomic chip manufacturing allow the experimenters to realize a Stern-Gerlach-inspired interferometer [16,[23][24][25][26], whereas the accuracy required for realizing a transversal Stern-Gerlach interferometer (SGI) as originally imagined remains fantastic. A side view of a transversal Stern-Gerlach interferometer as envisioned by Bohm (with the modification noted in the text).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Dynamical Simulation of a Transversal Stern–Gerlach Interferometer

Paraniak

Englert

2021

Symmetry

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Originally conceived as a thought experiment, an apparatus consisting of two Stern–Gerlach apparatuses joined in an inverted manner touched on the fundamental question of the reversibility of evolution in quantum mechanics. Theoretical analysis showed that uniting the two partial beams requires an extreme level of experimental control, making the proposal in its original form unrealizable in practice. In this work, we revisit the above question in a numerical study concerning the possibility of partial-beam recombination in a spin-coherent manner. Using the Suzuki–Trotter numerical method of wave propagation and a configurable, approximation-free magnetic field, a simulation of a transversal Stern–Gerlach interferometer under ideal conditions is performed. The result confirms what has long been hinted at by theoretical analyses: the transversal Stern–Gerlach interferometer quantum dynamics is fundamentally irreversible even when perfect control of the associated magnetic fields and beams is assumed.

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A longitudinal stern-gerlach atomic interferometer

Cited by 24 publications

References 11 publications

Stern-Gerlach Interferometry with the Atom Chip

Stern-Gerlach Interferometry with the Atom Chip

Realization of a complete Stern-Gerlach interferometer: Toward a test of quantum gravity

Quantum Dynamical Simulation of a Transversal Stern–Gerlach Interferometer

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