Decoherence from long-range forces in atom interferometry

Jonathan Kunjummen, Daniel Carney, and Jacob M. Taylor
Phys. Rev. A 107, 033319 – Published 17 March 2023

Abstract

Atom interferometers provide a powerful means of realizing quantum coherent systems with increasingly macroscopic extent in space and time. These systems provide an opportunity for a variety of novel tests of fundamental physics, including ultralight dark matter searches and tests of modifications of gravity, using long drop times and microgravity environments. However, as experiments operate with longer periods of free fall and become sensitive to smaller background effects, key questions start to emerge about the fundamental limits to future atom interferometry experiments. We study the effects on atomic coherence from hard-to-screen backgrounds due to baths of ambient particles with long-range forces, such as gravitating baths and charged cosmic rays. Our approach—working in the Heisenberg picture for the atomic motion—makes proper inclusion of the experimental apparatus feasible and clearly shows how to handle long-range forces. We find that these potential backgrounds are likely negligible for the next generation of interferometers, as aggressive estimates for the gravitational decoherence from a background bath of dark matter particles gives a decoherence timescale on the order of years.

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  • Received 30 May 2022
  • Revised 18 December 2022
  • Accepted 19 December 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.107.033319

©2023 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Research Areas
Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Jonathan Kunjummen1,*, Daniel Carney2, and Jacob M. Taylor1

  • 1Joint Quantum Institute and Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
  • 2Physics Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA

  • *jkunjumm@umd.edu

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 3 — March 2023

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