Splitting matter waves using an optimized standing-wave light-pulse sequence

Abstract

Abstract:In a recent experiment [1], it was observed that a sequence of two standing wave square pulses can split a BEC at rest into +/-2 k diffraction orders with almost 100% efficiency.By truncating the Raman-Nath equations to a 2-state model, we provide an intuitive picture that explains this double square pulse beamsplitter scheme. We further show it is possible to optimize a standingwave multi square pulse sequence to efficiently diffract an atom at rest to symmetric superposition of +/-2n k diffraction order with n>1. The approach is considered to be qualitatively different from the traditional light pulse schemes in the Bragg or the Raman-Nath region, and can be extended to more complex atomic optical elements that produce various tailored output momentum states from a cold atom source.2

Atom interferometry using wave packets with constant spatial displacements

“…Instead of measuring the mixed-state correlation functions, a fidelity-type measurement [19] can be performed with sub-recoil cooled atoms occupying a single matter-wave state, where velocityselective beam-splitting schemes can be applied [22,23].…”

Precision Measurement of Transition Matrix Elements via Light Shift Cancellation

“…For weak lattices where only orders with |l| ≤ 1 are populated, a Bloch sphere picture provides intuition [30] (Fig. 2).…”

Analysis of a free oscillation atom interferometer

“…For example, in a single-reflection atom Michelson interferometer, a BEC in a zero momentum state ψ 0 is split at time τ = 0 by a laser standing wave into two harmonics ψ + and ψ − [1,21,22]. The atoms in the ψ + harmonic absorb a photon from a laser beam with the momentum k l and re-emit into the beam with the momentum − k l (with k l being the wave number of the laser,) thus acquiring velocity v 0 = 2 k l /M, where M is the atomic mass.…”