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arXiv · 1606.06008

Contrast and phase-shift of a trapped atom interferometer using a thermal ensemble with internal state labelling

M. Dupont-Nivet·C. I. Westbrook·S. Schwartz
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Abstract

We report a theoretical study of a double-well Ramsey interferometer using internal state labelling. We consider the use of a thermal ensemble of cold atoms rather than a Bose-Einstein condensate to minimize the effects of atomic interactions. To maintain a satisfactory level of coherence in this case, a high degree of symmetry is required between the two arms of the interferometer. Assuming that the splitting and recombination processes are adiabatic, we theoretically derive the phase-shift and the contrast of such an interferometer in the presence of gravity or an acceleration field. We also consider using a "shortcut to adiabaticity" protocol to speed up the splitting process and discuss how such a procedure affects the phase shift and contrast. We find that the two procedures lead to phase-shifts of the same form.

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M. Dupont-Nivet, C. I. Westbrook, S. Schwartz. 2016-06-20. Contrast and phase-shift of a trapped atom interferometer using a thermal ensemble with internal state labelling. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/11/113012

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