Longitudinal atom optics using localized oscillating fields: A fully quantum-mechanical treatment
Abstract
We provide a fully quantal treatment of a beam of two-state particles interacting with temporally oscillating potentials, and propose a number of longitudinal atom optics devices. A single oscillatory potential, in coupling the two internal states, generally entangles each with a different longitudinal momentum. An oscillatory potential can also act as an amplitude modulator, creating momentum coherences within a single internal state. Two successive oscillatory fields (DSOF's), if differentially detuned, can couple an initially monochromatic state to a coherent momentum superposition, or alternatively may be used to detect a pre-existing momentum superposition. DSOF's can create amplitude modulation which, despite the presence of a broad velocity distribution, rephases at a selected distance downstream of the device. Phase modulation generates coherent momentum sidebands which can evolve into amplitude modulation at a particular location downstream.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- June 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.59.4641
- Bibcode:
- 1999PhRvA..59.4641P
- Keywords:
-
- 03.75.Be;
- 03.75.Dg;
- 39.20.+q;
- 32.80.Lg;
- Atom and neutron optics;
- Atom and neutron interferometry;
- Atom interferometry techniques;
- Mechanical effects of light on atoms molecules and ions