Coherent Atom Optics Research Articles

Collective-Mode Enhanced Matter-Wave Optics.

In contrast to light, matter-wave optics of quantum gases deals with interactions even in free space and for ensembles comprising millions of atoms. We exploit these interactions in a quantum degenerate gas as an adjustable lens for coherent atom optics. By combining an interaction-driven quadrupole-mode excitation of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) with a magnetic lens, we form a time-domain matter-wave lens system. The focus is tuned by the strength of the lensing potential and the oscillatory phase of the quadrupole mode. By placing the focus at infinity, we lower the total internal kinetic energy of a BEC comprising 101(37) thousand atoms in three dimensions to 3/2 k_{B}·38_{-7}^{+6} pK. Our method paves the way for free-fall experiments lasting ten or more seconds as envisioned for tests of fundamental physics and high-precision BEC interferometry, as well as opens up a new kinetic energy regime.

Hollow-Core Fiber Technology: The Rising of “Gas Photonics”

Since their inception, about 20 years ago, hollow-core photonic crystal fiber and its gas-filled form are now establishing themselves both as a platform in advancing our knowledge on how light is confined and guided in microstructured dielectric optical waveguides, and a remarkable enabler in a large and diverse range of fields. The latter spans from nonlinear and coherent optics, atom optics and laser metrology, quantum information to high optical field physics and plasma physics. Here, we give a historical account of the major seminal works, we review the physics principles underlying the different optical guidance mechanisms that have emerged and how they have been used as design tools to set the current state-of-the-art in the transmission performance of such fibers. In a second part of this review, we give a nonexhaustive, yet representative, list of the different applications where gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber played a transformative role, and how the achieved results are leading to the emergence of a new field, which could be coined “Gas photonics”. We particularly stress on the synergetic interplay between glass, gas, and light in founding this new fiber science and technology.

Controlling chaotic spin-motion entanglement of ultracold atoms via spin-orbit coupling.

We study the spatially chaoticity-dependent spin-motion entanglement of a spin-orbit (SO) coupled Bose-Einstein condensate with a source of ultracold atoms held in an optical superlattice. In the case of phase synchronization, we analytically demonstrate that (a) the SO coupling (SOC) leads to the generation of spin-motion entanglement; (b) the area of the high-chaoticity parameter region inversely relates to the SOC strength which renormalizes the chemical potential; and (c) the high-chaoticity is associated with the lower chemical potential and the larger ratio of the short-lattice depth to the longer-lattice depth. Then, we numerically generate the Poincaré sections to pinpoint that the chaos probability is enhanced with the decrease in the SOC strength and/or the spin-dependent current components. The existence of chaos is confirmed by computing the corresponding largest Lyapunov exponents. For an appropriate lattice depth ratio, the complete stop of one of (or both) the current components is related to the full chaoticity. The results mean that the weak SOC and/or the small current components can enhance the chaoticity. Based on the insensitivity of chaos probability to initial conditions, we propose a feasible scheme to manipulate the ensemble of chaotic spin-motion entangled states, which may be useful in coherent atom optics with chaotic atom transport.

Signatures of spatial inversion asymmetry of an optical lattice observed in matter-wave diffraction

The structure of a two-dimensional honeycomb optical lattice potential with small inversion asymmetry is characterized using coherent diffraction of $^{87}$Rb atoms. We demonstrate that even a small potential asymmetry, with peak-to-peak amplitude of $\leq 2.3\%$ of the overall lattice potential, can lead to pronounced inversion asymmetry in the momentum-space diffraction pattern. The observed asymmetry is explained quantitatively by considering both Kapitza-Dirac scattering in the Raman-Nath regime, and also either perturbative or full-numerical treatment of the band structure of a periodic potential with a weak inversion-symmetry-breaking term. Our results have relevance for both the experimental development of coherent atom optics and the proper interpretation of time-of-flight assays of atomic materials in optical lattices.

Nanowire atomchip traps for sub-micron atom–surface distances

We present an analysis of magnetic traps for ultracold atoms based on current-carrying wires with sub-micron dimensions. We analyze the physical limitations of these conducting wires as well as how such miniaturized magnetic traps are affected by the nearby surface due to tunneling to the surface, surface thermal noise, electron scattering within the wire and the Casimir–Polder force. We show that wires with cross sections as small as a few tens of nanometers should enable robust operating conditions for coherent atom optics (e.g. tunneling barriers for interferometry). In particular, trap sizes of the order of the de Broglie wavelength become accessible, based solely on static magnetic fields, thereby bringing the atomchip a step closer to fulfilling its promise of a compact device for complex and accurate quantum optics with ultracold atoms.

Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules

Interference with atomic and molecular matter waves is a rich branch of atomic physics and quantum optics. It started with atom diffraction from crystal surfaces and the separated oscillatory fields technique used in atomic clocks. Atom interferometry is now reaching maturity as a powerful art with many applications in modern science. In this review the basic tools for coherent atom optics are described including diffraction by nanostructures and laser light, three-grating interferometers, and double wells on atom chips. Scientific advances in a broad range of fields that have resulted from the application of atom interferometers are reviewed. These are grouped in three categories: (i) fundamental quantum science, (ii) precision metrology, and (iii) atomic and molecular physics. Although some experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates are included, the focus of the review is on linear matter wave optics, i.e., phenomena where each single atom interferes with itself.

A two-state Raman coupler for coherent atom optics

We present results on a Raman laser-system that resonantly drives a closed two-photon transition between two levels in different hyperfine ground states of (87)Rb. The coupler is based on a novel optical design for producing two phase-coherent optical beams to drive a Raman transition. Operated as an outcoupler, it produces an atom laser in a single internal atomic state, with the lower divergence and increased brightness typical of a Raman outcoupler. Due to the optical nature of the outcoupling, the two-state outcoupler is an ideal candidate for transferring photon correlations onto atom-laser beams. As our laser system couples just two hyperfine ground states, it has also been used as an internal state beamsplitter, taking the next major step towards free space Ramsey interferometry with an atom laser.

Multibeam atom laser: Coherent atom beam splitting from a single far-detuned laser

We report the experimental realization of a multibeam atom laser. A single continuous atom laser is outcoupled from a Bose-Einstein condensate via an optical Raman transition. The atom laser is subsequently split into up to five atomic beams with slightly different momenta, resulting in multiple, nearly copropagating, coherent beams which could be of use in interferometric experiments. The splitting process itself is a realization of Bragg diffraction, driven by each of the optical Raman laser beams independently. This presents a significantly simpler implementation of an atomic beam splitter, one of the main elements of coherent atom optics.

Atomic quantum systems in optical micro-structures

We present experiments with cold atoms in optical dipole potentials which are directed towards developing an integrated coherent atom optics with micro-optical systems. We describe an experiment on evaporative cooling in a far-detuned optical dipole trap for 87Rb. The dipole trap is created by a solid state laser at a wavelength of 1030 nm. To achieve high initial phase space densities allowing for efficient evaporative cooling, we have optimised the loading process from a magneto-optical trap into the dipole trap. Starting with an initial phase space density of 2 × 10−4 the trap depth was ramped down and temperatures below 200 nK and phase space densities of about 0.2 could be reached. These investigations aim at the creation of an ’all-optical’ BEC based on a simple experimental scheme. As an example for an integrated atom optical system, we present the transport of atoms in a ring-shaped guiding structure, i.e. optical storage ring, for cold atoms which is produced by a micro-fabricated ring lens.

Spin-singlet Bose-Einstein condensation of two-electron atoms.

We report the observation of a Bose-Einstein condensation of ytterbium atoms by evaporative cooling in a novel crossed optical trap. Unlike the previously observed condensates, a ytterbium condensate is a two-electron system in a singlet state and has distinct features such as the extremely narrow intercombination transitions which are ideal for future optical frequency standard and the insensitivity to external magnetic field which is important for precision coherent atom optics, and the existence of the novel metastable triplet states generated by optical excitation from the singlet state.

Formation of a matter-wave bright soliton.

We report the production of matter-wave solitons in an ultracold lithium-7 gas. The effective interaction between atoms in a Bose-Einstein condensate is tuned with a Feshbach resonance from repulsive to attractive before release in a one-dimensional optical waveguide. Propagation of the soliton without dispersion over a macroscopic distance of 1.1 millimeter is observed. A simple theoretical model explains the stability region of the soliton. These matter-wave solitons open possibilities for future applications in coherent atom optics, atom interferometry, and atom transport.

Photoassociation as a probe of Feshbach resonances in cold-atom scattering

We investigate theoretically the influence of magnetically tunable Feshbach collision resonances on the photoassociation spectra of ultracold atoms. As an example we consider recently predicted resonances for ${}^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. For excitation to the ${}^{85}{\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}{\mathrm{ }0}_{g}^{\ensuremath{-}}{(S}_{1/2}{+P}_{1/2})$ electronic state, we predict that the photoassociation rate is resonantly enhanced by at least two orders of magnitude. We find that photoassociation could serve as a useful probe with which to study Feshbach resonances in ultracold collisions. In turn, these resonances should be very important to Bose-condensed gases, and more generally, to coherent atom optics.