Berlin 2014 – wissenschaftliches Programm
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 2: Matter wave optics I
Q 2.5: Vortrag
Montag, 17. März 2014, 11:30–11:45, DO26 208
Comparison between pure and mixed states in single-shot atom interferometry — •Albert Roura, Wolfgang Zeller, Wolfgang P. Schleich, and the QUANTUS Team — Institut für Quantenphysik, Universität Ulm
Long-time atom interferometry in the range of 5 to 10 s would enable inertial measurements with unprecedented precision (whose sensitivity often grows quadratically with time), such as tests of the weak equivalence principle at the 10−15 level. Recent experimental efforts to achieve longer interferometer times have followed two alternative approaches: employing the pure state of a BEC [1] or the mixed thermal state for cold (but non-condensed) atoms [2]. We will introduce first a simple formalism for describing the density profile in open atom interferometers, where the interfering wave packets at the exit ports do not perfectly overlap in position or momentum due to asymmetric pulse timing, rotations or gravity gradients. Next, a convenient extension to mixed states which allows an intuitive comparison with the case of pure states will be presented. It is then straightforward to discuss the limitations of the point-source-interferometry approximation employed to describe recent experiments [2], and to provide an accurate description for the regime beyond its domain of applicability.
The QUANTUS project is supported by the German Space Agency (DLR) with funds provided by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) under grant number 50WM1136.
[1] H. Müntinga et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 093602 (2013)
[2] S. M. Dickerson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 083001 (2013)