New Journal of Physics (Jan 2016)

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/18/11/113012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 11
p. 113012

Abstract

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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 minimise 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 a 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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