Bulletin of the American Physical Society
47th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume 61, Number 8
Monday–Friday, May 23–27, 2016; Providence, Rhode Island
Session N5: Atom Interferometers |
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Chair: Jason Hogan, Stanford University Room: 551AB |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 10:30AM - 10:42AM |
N5.00001: Multiphoton Raman Atom Optics with Frequency-Swept Adiabatic Passage Krish Kotru, David Butts, Joseph Kinast, Richard Stoner Light-pulse atom interferometry is a promising candidate for future inertial navigators, gravitational wave detectors, and measurements of fundamental physical constants. The sensitivity of this technique, however, is often limited by the small momentum separations created between interfering atom wave packets (typically $\sim $2$\hbar k)$. We address this issue using light-pulse atom optics derived from stimulated Raman transitions and frequency-swept adiabatic rapid passage (ARP). In experiments, these Raman ARP atom optics have generated up to 30$\hbar k$ photon recoil momenta in an acceleration-sensitive atom interferometer, thereby enhancing the phase shift per unit acceleration by a factor of 15. Since this approach forgoes evaporative cooling and velocity selection, it could enable large-area atom interferometry at higher data rates, while also lowering the atom shot-noise-limited measurement uncertainty. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 10:42AM - 10:54AM |
N5.00002: Measurements of the Ground-State Polarizabilities of Cs, Rb, and K using Atom Interferometry Maxwell Gregoire, Ivan Hromada, William Holmgren, Raisa Trubko, Alex Cronin We measured the ground-state static electric-dipole polarizabilities of Cs, Rb, and K atoms with 0.2{\%} uncertainty using a three-nanograting Mach-Zehnder atom beam interferometer.~ Since thermal Cs atoms have short de Broglie wavelengths, we developed measurement methods that do not require resolved atom diffraction: we used phase choppers to measure atomic beam velocity distributions, and electric field gradients to induce polarizability-dependent phase shifts. Our measurements provide benchmark tests for atomic structure calculations and thus test the underlying theory used to interpret atomic parity non-conservation experiments. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 10:54AM - 11:06AM |
N5.00003: Influence of noise on a magnetically sensitive atom interferometer Sara A DeSavage, Arvind Srinivasan, Jon P. Davis, Matthias Zimmermann, Maxim Efremov, Ernst Rasel, Wolfgang Schleich, George R. Welch, Jihane Mimih, Frank A. Narducci The inherent sensitivity of atom interferometer sensors has been well established [1] and much progress has been made in the development of atom interferometer gravimeters, gravity gradiometers and gyroscopes e.g. [2]. These interferometers use the “clock” transition which is magnetically insensitive. When considering interferometers with magnetically sensitive transitions [3] operating in unshielded environments additional noise sources must be considered. The frequency content of the noise from these sources can vary dramatically, depending on the environment. In this talk, we will discuss these various noise sources and their impact on the performance of magnetically sensitive interferometers. Specifically, we identify three ways by which noise can be introduced into the system and their effect: fluctuating detuning, leading to a randomness of the interference pattern; fluctuating Rabi frequency, leading to pulse errors; non-uniformity of the magnetic field across the atom cloud, which can, under certain circumstances lead to a complete washing out of the interference pattern. Implications for our current experiments will be discussed. References [1] Phys. Rev. A, 48, 3186, (1993). [2] Phys. Rev. Lett., 114, 063002, (2015). [3] J. Mod. Opt., 55, 3173, (2008). [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:06AM - 11:18AM |
N5.00004: Single-shot, optical-phase-insensitive interferometry with BECs Paul Griffin, Billy Robertson, Andrew MacKellar, James Halket, Aidan Arnold, Erling Riis Atom interferometers allow the measurement of forces through detection of the differential phase shifts induced in the atomic wavefunction by the interaction. The atomic phase can then be readout against a lab-frame reference, typically the spatial phase of an optical standing wave. This readout is a leading limitation to practical measurement, requiring long temporal stability of the optical phase, without which the resolution of the atomic signal can be lost. We have built an atom interferometer that is inherently insensitive to the phase noise of the readout system. Here, we will describe new features developed in our Bose-Einstein condensate system, including tuneable, high-fidelity, symmetric atomic-beamsplitters through a multi-pulse Kapitza-Dirac scheme. We use an atomic homodyne detection that transfers the atomic phase into a temporal atomic beat-note, and show how the entire interferometric signal can be readout in a single shot. Results from the system include measurement of small-angle projection of the gravitational force, as well as the sensitivity of the atomic phase to gradients of magnetic fields. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:18AM - 11:30AM |
N5.00005: Dual interferometry with a tunable point of minimum magnetic sensitivity Eduardo Gomez, Saeed Hamzeloui, Daniel Martinez, Vahide Abediyeh, Nieves Arias, Victor Manuel Valenzuela The clock transition is well known for its minimum magnetic sensitivity at B$=$0. The hyperfine transition between F$=$1, m$=$-1 and F$=$2, m$=$1 in 87Rb also shows a point of minimum magnetic sensitivity but it happens at a field of 3.2 Gauss. An interferometer that uses a mixture of the previous two transitions gives a minimum of magnetic sensitivity at a tunable value of the magnetic field between 0 and 3.2 Gauss. The desired magnetic field value can be selected by varying the population in each transition. The relative populations are controlled with a microwave pulse joining states in both interferometers. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:30AM - 11:42AM |
N5.00006: Atom Interferometry on Sounding Rockets with Bose-Einstein Condensates Stephan T Seidel, Dennis Becker, Maike D Lachmann, Waldemar Herr, Ernst M Rasel One of the fundamental postulates of our description of nature is the universality of free fall, stating that the force exerted upon an object due to gravity is independent of its constitution. A precise test of this assumption is the comparison of the free fall of two ultra-cold clouds of different atomic species via atom interferometry. Since the sensitivity of the measurement is proportional to the square of the propagation time in the interferometer, it can be increased by performing the experiments in microgravity. In order to fully utilize the potential of the experiments the usage of a Bose-Einstein-Condensate as the initial state is necessary, because it is characterized by a small initial size and a low expansion velocity. As a step towards the transfer of such a system into space three sounding rocket missions with atom interferometers are currently being prepared. The launch of the first mission, aimed at the first demonstration of a Bose-Einstein-Condensate in space and an atom interferometer based on it is planned for 2016 from ESRANGE, Sweden. It will be followed by two more missions that extend the scientific goals to the creation of degenerate mixtures and dual-species atom interferometry. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:42AM - 11:54AM |
N5.00007: Advancing differential atom interferometry for space applications Sheng-wey Chiow, Jason Williams, Nan Yu Atom interferometer (AI) based sensors exhibit precision and accuracy unattainable with classical sensors, thanks to the inherent stability of atomic properties. Dual atomic sensors operating in a differential mode further extend AI applicability beyond environmental disturbances. Extraction of the phase difference between dual AIs, however, typically introduces uncertainty and systematic in excess of that warranted by each AI’s intrinsic noise characteristics, especially in practical applications and real time measurements. In this presentation, we report our efforts in developing practical schemes for reducing noises and enhancing sensitivities in the differential AI measurement implementations. We will describe an active phase extraction method that eliminates the noise overhead and demonstrates a performance boost of a gravity gradiometer by a factor of 3. We will also describe a new long-baseline approach for differential AI measurements in a laser ranging assisted AI configuration. The approach uses well-developed AIs for local measurements but leverage the mature schemes of space laser interferometry for LISA and GRACE. This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with NASA. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:54AM - 12:06PM |
N5.00008: Probing dark energy with an atom interferometer in an optical cavity Matthew Jaffe, Philipp Haslinger, Paul Hamilton, Holger Mueller, Justin Khoury, Benjamin Elder If dark energy --- which drives the accelerated expansion of the universe --- consists of a light scalar field, it might be detectable as a ``fifth force'' between normal-matter objects, in potential conflict with precision tests of gravity. Chameleon fields and other theories with screening mechanisms can evade such tests by suppressing this force in regions of high density, such as the laboratory. Our experiments constrain these dark energy models using atoms in an ultrahigh-vacuum chamber$^{1}$ as probes to expose the screened fields. Using a cesium matter wave interferometer in an optical cavity, we set stringent bounds on coupling screened theories to matter$^{2}$. A further 4 to 5 orders of magnitude would completely rule out chameleon and f(R) theories. I will describe this first tabletop dark energy search, and present the hundredfold boost in sensitivity we have since achieved. [1] -- \textit{C Burrage, E Copeland, E Hinds, }\textbf{Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics} \textit{2015, 03} [2] -- \textit{P Hamilton, M Jaffe, P Haslinger, Q Simmons, H M\"{u}ller, J Khoury}, \textbf{Science} \textit{349, 6250 (2015)} [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 12:06PM - 12:18PM |
N5.00009: High-precision measurements of the $^{87}$Rb $D$-line tune-out wavelength Adam Fallon, Robert Leonard, Charles Sackett We report a measurement of a light wavelength at which the ac electric polarizability equals zero for $^{87}$Rb atoms in the $F=2$ ground hyperfine state. The experiment uses a condensate interferometer to find this “tune-out” wavelength for the scalar polarizability, which lies at 790.032388(32) nm. Our result can be used to determine the ratio of matrix elements $| \langle 5P_{3/2} \| d \| 5S_{1/2} \rangle / \langle 5P_{1/2} \| d \| 5S_{1/2} \rangle |^2 = 1.99221(3)$, a 100-fold improvement over previous experimental values. We discuss techniques for accurate determination and control of light polarization as well as progress on measurements of the vector polarizability between the $D1$ and $D2$ spectral lines. Measurements of tune-out wavelengths and the vector polarizability between multiple lines allows separation of individual contributions to the polarizability from higher-lying states and the core up to ratios of matrix elements. Accurate knowledge of these ratios should serve useful as a theoretical benchmark and in atomic parity violation experiments. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 26, 2016 12:18PM - 12:30PM |
N5.00010: Superradiance on the mHz linewidth clock transition in 87Sr Matthew Norcia, Matthew Winchester, Julia Cline, James Thompson In this talk, I will discuss our recent experimental explorations of superradiant emission from the mHz linewidth clock transition in an ensemble of cold $^{87}$Sr atoms confined within a high-finesse optical cavity. Recent proposals suggest that superradiant lasers based on such dipole-forbidden transitions in alkaline earth atoms could achieve linewidths below the current state of the art, with reduced sensitivity to environmental perturbations. [Preview Abstract] |
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