New Developments in Atom Interferometry

Abstract

The first true atom interferometer was demonstrated. Using transmission gratings as optical elements for atom deBroglie waves, a three grating atom interferometer was constructed which physically separates atom waves before recombining them. This demonstration was closely followed by two demonstrations of atom interferometers which used laser light as the beam splitters. Atom interferometers will make possible qualitatively new types of experiments involving inertial effects, studies of atomic and molecular properties, tests of basic quantum physics, and may ultimately open the way to make ultra-small structures using atom holograms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA254094

Entities

People

  • David E. Pritchard

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Atomic Beams
  • Demonstrations
  • Electron Beams
  • Gratings (Spectra)
  • Holograms
  • Interferometers
  • Interferometry
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Optical Interferometers
  • Optics
  • Particle Beams
  • Physics
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Refractive Index
  • Stabilization Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Quantum Computing