Bulletin of the American Physical Society
49th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics APS Meeting
Volume 63, Number 5
Monday–Friday, May 28–June 1 2018; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Session Q06: Precision Measurements with Atom Interferometers |
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Chair: Paul Hamilton, UCLA Room: Grand G |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 8:00AM - 8:12AM |
Q06.00001: Effective inertial frame in an atom interferometric test of the equivalence principle Chris Overstreet, Peter Asenbaum, Tim Kovachy, Remy Notermans, Jason M. Hogan, Mark A. Kasevich In an ideal test of the equivalence principle, the test masses fall in a common inertial frame. A real experiment is affected by gravity gradients, which introduce systematic errors by coupling to initial kinematic differences between the test masses. We reduce the sensitivity of a dual-species atom interferometer to initial kinematics by using a frequency shift of the middle pulse to create an effective inertial frame for both atomic species. This suppresses the gravity-gradient-induced dependence of the differential phase on initial kinematic differences by two orders of magnitude and enables a precise measurement of these differences. We realize a relative precision of $3 \times 10^{-11}$ per shot and reduce systematic errors associated with the gravity gradient to below one part in $10^{13}$, paving the way for an atomic test of the equivalence principle at an accuracy comparable with state-of-the-art classical tests. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 8:12AM - 8:24AM |
Q06.00002: Opportunities for Maturing Precision Metrology with Ultracold Gas Studies Aboard the ISS Jason Williams, Jose D'Incao Precision atom interferometers (AI) in space are expected to become an enabling technology for future fundamental physics research, with proposals including unprecedented tests of the validity of the weak equivalence principle, measurements of the fine structure and gravitational constants, and detection of gravity waves and dark matter/dark energy. We will discuss our preparation at JPL to use NASA's Cold Atom Lab facility (CAL) to mature the technology of precision, space-based, AIs. The focus of our flight project is three-fold: a) study the controlled dynamics of heteronuclear Feshbach molecules, at temperatures of nano-Kelvins or below, as a means to overcome uncontrolled density-profile-dependent shifts in differential AIs, b) demonstrate unprecedented atom-photon coherence times with spatially constrained AIs, c) use the imaging capabilities of CAL to detect and analyze spatial fringe patterns written onto the clouds after AI and thereby measure the rotational noise of the ISS. The impact from this work, and potential for follow-on studies, will also be reviewed in the context of future space-based fundamental physics missions. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 8:24AM - 8:36AM |
Q06.00003: QED Corrections to the Tune-out Wavelength for the $\mathbf{1s2s\;^3S}$ -- $\mathbf{1s3p\;^3P}$ Transition of Helium Gordon Drake, Jacob Manalo We have previously reported high precision calculations for the nonrelativistic tune-out wavelength of helium near the $1s2s\;^3S - 1s3p\;^3P$ transition at 413 nm, and the corresponding relativistic corrections [1]. The calculations have now been extended to include the lowest-order quantum electrodynamic (QED) corrections due to electron self-energy and vacuum polarization. The tune-out wavelength is the wavelength at which the frequency dependent polarizability vanishes. It can be measured to very high precision by means of an interferometric comparison between two atomic beams. This paper is part of a joint theoretical/ experimental project with K. Baldwin et al.\ (Australian National University) [2] and L.-Y. Tang et al.\ (Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics) [3]. The results will be compared with experiment and recent relativistic CI calculations [3]. \newline [1] G.W.F. Drake and Jacob Manalo, 48th Annual DAMOP Meeting, Bull.\ Am.\ Phys.\ Soc.\ {\bf 62}, No.\ 8 (2017), Abstract C7.00003.\newline [2] B. M. Henson et al., Phys.\ Rev.\ Lett.\ {\bf 115}, 043004 (2015).\newline [3] Y.-H. Zhang et al., Phys.\ Rev.\ A {\bf 93}, 052516 (2016). [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 8:36AM - 8:48AM |
Q06.00004: Multiaxis atom interferometry with a single-diode laser and a pyramidal magneto-optical trap Xuejian Wu, Zachary Pagel, Bola Malek, Jordan Dudley, Fei Zi, Philip Canoza, Holger Müller Atom interferometry has become one of the most powerful technologies for precision measurements. In order to develop a simple, precise, and versatile atom interferometer for inertial sensing, we demonstrate a scheme for atom interferometry to measure multiple axes of accelerations and rotations based on a single-diode laser and a pyramidal magneto-optical trap. Three-axis of accelerations, three-axis of rotations and two-axis of inclinations can be measured by pointing Raman beams toward individual faces of a pyramidal mirror. Only a single-diode laser is used for all functions, including atom trapping, interferometry, and detection. Efficient Doppler-sensitive Raman transitions are achieved without velocity selecting the atom sample, and with zero differential AC Stark shift between the cesium hyperfine ground states, increasing signal-to-noise and suppressing systematic effects. As a demonstration, we measure gravity along two axes, rotation, and inclination with sensitivities of 6 $\mu $m$/$s$^{\mathrm{2}}$, 300 $\mu $rad$/$s, and 4 $\mu $rad at one second, respectively. This work paves the way toward deployable multiaxis atom interferometers for geodesy, geology, or inertial navigation. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 8:48AM - 9:00AM |
Q06.00005: Raman and Ramsey Spectroscopy in a continuous atom source Michael P. Manicchia, Aaron Meldrum, Jon P. Davis, Frank A. Narducci We report on a theoretical and experimental study of Raman and Ramsey spectroscopy in a continuous atomic source comprised of atoms emanating from a two-dimensional magneto-optical trap. Our approach builds on previously reported work [1,2] but has the advantage of being continuous, so as to minimize inertial sensing errors and also reduce the apparatus' power budget and complexity. In our apparatus, both the atom source and the Raman fields are continuous so that the ``pulses'' the atoms experience are due to the transit time of the atoms through the laser beam. We explore the effects of longitudinal and transverse velocity spread, laser beam width, and laser beam spatial separation on the contrast in the resulting spectrum. The impact of stray resonant light will be highlighted [3]. Implications to the fundamental limit for inertial sensing and magnetic field gradient sensing will be discussed.\\ [1] T. L. Gustavson and A. Landragin and M. A. Kasevich, {\em Classical and Quantum Gravity}, {\bf 17}, (12), 2385, (2000).\\ [2] T. M\"uller and T. Wendrich and M. Gilowski and C. Jentsch and E. M. Rasel and W. Ertmer, {\em Phys. Rev A.}, {\bf 76}, (6),063611, (2007).\\ [3] J. P. Davis and F. A. Narducci, {\em Appl. Opt.}, {\bf 55},(31) C39, (Nov., 2016). [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 9:00AM - 9:12AM |
Q06.00006: Weak values of spin in atomic systems Robert Flack, Vincenzo Monachello, Basil Hiley \noindent Weak values have a long history and were first considered by Landau and London in connection with superfluids. Hirschfelder called them sub-observables and Dirac anticipatied them when discussing non-commutative geometry in quantum mechanics. The idea of a weak value has returned to prominence due to Aharonov, Albert and Vaidman showing how they can be measured. They are not eigenvalues of the system and can not be measured by a collapse of the wave function with the traditional Von Neumann (strong) measurement which is a single stage process. In contrast the weak measurement process has three stages; preselection, weak stage and finally a post selection. Weak values have been observed using photons and neutrons and we are building an experiment to observe them in atomic systems of helium, neon and argon. We are using a method which is a variant on the original Stern-Gerlach experiment. The design, simulation, realisation and results of the experiment will be presented. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, May 31, 2018 9:12AM - 9:24AM |
Q06.00007: Abstract Withdrawn
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Thursday, May 31, 2018 9:24AM - 9:36AM |
Q06.00008: Abstract Withdrawn
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Thursday, May 31, 2018 9:36AM - 9:48AM |
Q06.00009: High precision measurement of vector tune-out wavelengths in $^{87}$Rb Adam Fallon, Seth Berl, Cass Sackett We report progress on a measurement of the vector component of the ac electric polarizability of $^{87}$Rb using tune-out wavelength spectroscopy. The experiment uses a condensate interferometer to measure tune-out wavelengths whose locations depend on the optical polarization of the probe laser. New techniques have been developed to allow for precise control and continuous tuning of the optical polarization. These techniques are validated through a measurement of the scalar tune-out wavelength between the $D1$ and $D2$ spectral lines and a comparison with previous results. Measurements of scalar 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 31, 2018 9:48AM - 10:00AM |
Q06.00010: A trapped-atom Sagnac interferometer using reciprocal circular trajectories Edward Moan, Cass Sackett, Zhe Luo We describe progress towards an atomic Sagnac interferometer using a circular trajectory in a cylindrically symmetric harmonic trap. The atoms are split and recombined using off-resonant Bragg laser pulses. An initial pulse splits the atoms into packets with momenta $\pm 2\hbar k$. These packets move in the harmonic potential until they come to rest at the classical turning point. An orthogonally oriented Bragg laser then further splits the atoms into four packets, which make nearly circular orbits about the potential center. After an integer number of orbits the packets can be recombined, forming two reciprocal interferometers whose phase difference is sensitive to rotations but rejects other common-mode noise sources. We have observed closed circular trajectories with a diameter of 0.6 mm, corresponding to a Sagnac phase of 1500 s times the rotation rate. This corresponds to about 0.1 rad for an Earth-rate rotation. [Preview Abstract] |
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