Limitations for field-enhanced atom interferometry
Abstract
We discuss the possibility to enhance the sensitivity of optical interferometric devices by increasing their open area using an external field gradient that acts differently on the two arms of the interferometers. The use of a combined electric and magnetic field cancels nonlinear terms that dephase the interferometer. This is possible using well-defined (typically with n ∼20 Rydberg) states, a magnetic field of a few Tesla, and an electric field gradient of ∼10 V /cm2 . However, this allows for interaction times only on the order of tens of microseconds, leading to a reachable accuracy of only 1 or 2 orders of magnitude higher than standard light-pulse atom interferometers. Furthermore, the control of fields and states and three-dimensional (3D) trajectories puts severe limits to the reachable accuracy. This idea is therefore not suitable for precision measurement but might eventually be used for gravity or neutrality in antimatter studies.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review A
- Pub Date:
- February 2020
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevA.101.023606
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2002.10785
- Bibcode:
- 2020PhRvA.101b3606C
- Keywords:
-
- Physics - Atomic Physics;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- Physical Review A, American Physical Society 2020, 101 (2)