title: Demonstration and characterization of a detector for minimally destructive detection of Bose condensed atoms in real time.
abstract: We present the first detector that is capable of recording high-bandwidth atom number density measurements of a Bose-Einstein condensate, with a readout of the data in real time. It is based on a shot-noise-limited unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer designed for a minimally destructive measurement of the atom column density of a Bose-Einstein condensate. The shot-noise limit is reached by phase modulating the laser in one arm and phase locking the interferometer with a second-color laser. The detector is characterized, and its sensitivity for a fractional change in the column density of a Bose-Einstein condensate is calculated. With this detection system it may be possible to implement feedback to stabilize a Bose-Einstein condensate or an atom laser.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Quantum-Atom Optics, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. cristina.figl@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Figl
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longchambon
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeppesen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Hans A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Bachor
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Close