Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 278-283 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Laser physics |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
Abstract
An atomic beam of laser-decelerated metastable neon atoms has been used for the first experimental observation of an atomic beam diffracted by coherent transfer of two photon momenta from an evanescent standing laser field. The incident atomic beam of the laser-slowed neon atoms had a mean velocity of 25 m/s as it was transversely compressed to a diameter below 0.15 mm and to sub-Doppler temperatures. Direct images of diffraction patterns taken by a high-resolution two-dimensional detector showed specular reflection of the beam of metastable neon atoms up to 74 mrad and clearly the second diffraction order from 81 to 92 mrad. Based on a new detection scheme, optical Ramsey fringes on the Mg intercombination line (λ = 457 nm) have been demonstrated with a resolution of 4 kHz and an accuracy of 2 × 10-15 using laser-cooled and trapped atoms. Applying a pulsed excitation scheme to the trapped ensemble, the Ramsey signals are nearly undisturbed by the relativistic Doppler effect and phase errors of the Ramsey zones. The detection is based on quantum amplification due to the electron shelving effect in cooperation with the trap dynamics, monitored as decrease of the trap fluorescence induced by the fast trapping transition. Simultaneously recorded Ramsey interferences on a thermal atomic beam allowed a direct measurement of the second-order Doppler shift. The relevance of the experiment to future frequency standards achieving a stability and an accuracy of better than 10-15 are discussed. In an additional experiment, the trap for the neutral Mg atoms was improved in such a way that a picture of the fluorescence light of a single atom stored in the trap could be recorded.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Instrumentation
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Engineering(all)
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
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In: Laser physics, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1996, p. 278-283.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Interferometry with laser-manipulated cold atoms
AU - Ertmer, W.
AU - Sengstock, K.
AU - Sterr, U.
AU - Müller, J. H.
AU - Bettermann, D.
AU - Rieger, V.
AU - Ruschewitz, F.
AU - Peng, J. L.
AU - Dingler, F.
AU - Pabst, A.
AU - Strichirsch, R.
AU - Christ, M.
AU - Scholz, A.
AU - Schiffer, M.
AU - Wokurka, G.
AU - Deutschmann, R.
AU - Wallis, H.
AU - Friebel, S.
AU - Penselin, S.
PY - 1996
Y1 - 1996
N2 - An atomic beam of laser-decelerated metastable neon atoms has been used for the first experimental observation of an atomic beam diffracted by coherent transfer of two photon momenta from an evanescent standing laser field. The incident atomic beam of the laser-slowed neon atoms had a mean velocity of 25 m/s as it was transversely compressed to a diameter below 0.15 mm and to sub-Doppler temperatures. Direct images of diffraction patterns taken by a high-resolution two-dimensional detector showed specular reflection of the beam of metastable neon atoms up to 74 mrad and clearly the second diffraction order from 81 to 92 mrad. Based on a new detection scheme, optical Ramsey fringes on the Mg intercombination line (λ = 457 nm) have been demonstrated with a resolution of 4 kHz and an accuracy of 2 × 10-15 using laser-cooled and trapped atoms. Applying a pulsed excitation scheme to the trapped ensemble, the Ramsey signals are nearly undisturbed by the relativistic Doppler effect and phase errors of the Ramsey zones. The detection is based on quantum amplification due to the electron shelving effect in cooperation with the trap dynamics, monitored as decrease of the trap fluorescence induced by the fast trapping transition. Simultaneously recorded Ramsey interferences on a thermal atomic beam allowed a direct measurement of the second-order Doppler shift. The relevance of the experiment to future frequency standards achieving a stability and an accuracy of better than 10-15 are discussed. In an additional experiment, the trap for the neutral Mg atoms was improved in such a way that a picture of the fluorescence light of a single atom stored in the trap could be recorded.
AB - An atomic beam of laser-decelerated metastable neon atoms has been used for the first experimental observation of an atomic beam diffracted by coherent transfer of two photon momenta from an evanescent standing laser field. The incident atomic beam of the laser-slowed neon atoms had a mean velocity of 25 m/s as it was transversely compressed to a diameter below 0.15 mm and to sub-Doppler temperatures. Direct images of diffraction patterns taken by a high-resolution two-dimensional detector showed specular reflection of the beam of metastable neon atoms up to 74 mrad and clearly the second diffraction order from 81 to 92 mrad. Based on a new detection scheme, optical Ramsey fringes on the Mg intercombination line (λ = 457 nm) have been demonstrated with a resolution of 4 kHz and an accuracy of 2 × 10-15 using laser-cooled and trapped atoms. Applying a pulsed excitation scheme to the trapped ensemble, the Ramsey signals are nearly undisturbed by the relativistic Doppler effect and phase errors of the Ramsey zones. The detection is based on quantum amplification due to the electron shelving effect in cooperation with the trap dynamics, monitored as decrease of the trap fluorescence induced by the fast trapping transition. Simultaneously recorded Ramsey interferences on a thermal atomic beam allowed a direct measurement of the second-order Doppler shift. The relevance of the experiment to future frequency standards achieving a stability and an accuracy of better than 10-15 are discussed. In an additional experiment, the trap for the neutral Mg atoms was improved in such a way that a picture of the fluorescence light of a single atom stored in the trap could be recorded.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038225251&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0038225251
VL - 6
SP - 278
EP - 283
JO - Laser physics
JF - Laser physics
SN - 1054-660X
IS - 2
ER -