Atom interferometry using wave packets with constant spatial displacements

Edward J. Su, Saijun Wu, and Mara G. Prentiss

Phys. Rev. A 81, 043631 – Published 27 April 2010

Abstract

A standing-wave light-pulse sequence is demonstrated that places atoms into a superposition of wave packets with precisely controlled displacements that remain constant for times as long as 1 s. The separated wave packets are subsequently recombined, resulting in atom interference patterns that probe energy differences of $\approx 10^{- 34}$ J and can provide acceleration measurements that are insensitive to platform vibrations.

Received 6 February 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.81.043631

Authors & Affiliations

Edward J. Su^1,*, Saijun Wu^1,2,†, and Mara G. Prentiss¹

¹Harvard University Department of Physics, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
²Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Science, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

^*Present address: Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139.
^†Present address: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899.

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Issue

Vol. 81, Iss. 4 — April 2010

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