Lattice interferometer for laser-cooled atoms.
We demonstrate an atom interferometer in which atoms are laser cooled into a 1D optical lattice, suddenly released, and later subjected to a pulsed optical lattice. For short pulses, a simple analytical theory predicts the signal. We investigate both short and longer pulses where the analytical theory fails. Longer pulses yield higher precision and larger signals, and we observe a coherent signal at times that can differ significantly from the expected echo time. The interferometer has potential for precision measurements of variant Planck's/m(A), and can probe the dynamics of atoms in an optical lattice.
Atomic Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8424, USA.
Mikkel F
MF
Andersen
Tycho
T
Sleator