Article abstract
Nature Physics 1, 57 - 62 (2005)
doi:10.1038/nphys125
Subject Categories: Atomic and molecular physics | Optical physics | Techniques and instrumentation
Matter-wave interferometry in a double well on an atom chip
T. Schumm1,2, S. Hofferberth1, L. M. Andersson1, S. Wildermuth1, S. Groth1,3, I. Bar-Joseph3, J. Schmiedmayer1 and P. Krüger1
Abstract
Matter-wave interference experiments enable us to study matter at its most basic, quantum level and form the basis of high-precision sensors for applications such as inertial and gravitational field sensing. Success in both of these pursuits requires the development of atom-optical elements that can manipulate matter waves at the same time as preserving their coherence and phase. Here, we present an integrated interferometer based on a simple, coherent matter-wave beam splitter constructed on an atom chip. Through the use of radio-frequency-induced adiabatic double-well potentials, we demonstrate the splitting of Bose–Einstein condensates into two clouds separated by distances ranging from 3 to 80 
m, enabling access to both tunnelling and isolated regimes. Moreover, by analysing the interference patterns formed by combining two clouds of ultracold atoms originating from a single condensate, we measure the deterministic phase evolution throughout the splitting process. We show that we can control the relative phase between the two fully separated samples and that our beam splitter is phase-preserving.
- Physikalisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique, UMR 8105 du CNRS, F-91403 Orsay, France
- Department of Condensed Matter Physics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Correspondence to: P. Krüger1 Current address: Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, École Normale Supérieure, F-75005 Paris, France
Correspondence to: J. Schmiedmayer1 e-mail: schmiedmayer@atomchip.org
Correspondence to: P. Krüger1 e-mail: krueger@physi.uni-heidelberg.de
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