Abstract

We present results on a free-space atom interferometer operating on the first order magnetically insensitive |F = 1,mF = 0) → |F = 2,mF = 0) ground state transition of Bose-condensed ⁸⁷Rb atoms. A pulsed atom laser is output-coupled from a Bose-Einstein condensate and propagates through a sequence of two internal state beam splitters, realized via coherent Raman transitions between the two interfering states. We observe Ramsey fringes with a visibility close to 100% and determine the current and the potentially achievable interferometric phase sensitivity. This system is well suited to testing recent proposals for generating and detecting squeezed atomic states.

© 2009 Optical Society of America

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History
Original Manuscript: September 24, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: October 23, 2009
Published: October 26, 2009

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Author Affiliations

D Döring, J. E. Debs, C. Figl, P. A. Altin, J. D. Close

Australian National University

N. P. Robins

The Australian National University

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