title: From single- to multiple-pPhoton decoherence in an atom interferometer.
abstract: We measure the decoherence of a spatially separated atomic superposition due to spontaneous photon scattering. We observe a qualitative change in decoherence versus separation as the number of scattered photons increases, and verify quantitatively the decoherence rate constant in the many-photon limit. Our results illustrate an evolution of decoherence consistent with general models developed for a broad class of decoherence phenomena.
authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Kokorowski
authors: A D
authors: AD
authors: Cronin
authors: T D
authors: TD
authors: Roberts
authors: D E
authors: DE
authors: Pritchard