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This research demonstrates a proof-of-principle atom interferometer utilizing the transverse phase profiles of Hypergeometric Gaussian beams to measure rotations with sensitivity scaling linearly with orbital angular momentum. The study successfully characterizes thermal decoherence near phase singularities, providing a closed-form expression for visibility that supports the use of condensed atoms in ring-shaped traps. While technically significant, this work remains a foundational physics experiment rather than a near-term commercial product or scalable infrastructure solution.
Atom Interferometry with Transverse Optical Modes
arXiv:2606.04430v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: We experimentally demonstrate atom interferometry using the transverse phase profile of an optical mode. As proof-of-principle, we use the helical phase windings of Hypergeometric Gaussian beams for Ramsey interferometry with ensembles of ballistically-expanding cold Rb87 atoms, and we show that the interferometer can measure rotations induced by a motor with a sensitivity that scales linearly with orbital angular momentum and interferometer time. We characterize the thermal decoherence of the interferometer, deriving and experimentally confirming a closed-form expression for the spatially-varying interferometer visibility arising near the singularity of the helical phase winding, motivating the use of condensed atoms in ring-shaped traps.
Authors:Ryan Husband, Ryan J. Thomas, Yosri Ben-Aïcha, Rhys H. Eagle, Jessica Eastman, John E. Debs, Patrick J. Everitt, Michael Larsen, Eric Imhof, Charles A. Sackett, John D. Close, Simon A. Haine, Samuel Legge
Abstract:We experimentally demonstrate atom interferometry using the transverse phase profile of an optical mode. As proof-of-principle, we use the helical phase windings of Hypergeometric Gaussian beams for Ramsey interferometry with ensembles of ballistically-expanding cold Rb87 atoms, and we show that the interferometer can measure rotations induced by a motor with a sensitivity that scales linearly with orbital angular momentum and interferometer time. We characterize the thermal decoherence of the interferometer, deriving and experimentally confirming a closed-form expression for the spatially-varying interferometer visibility arising near the singularity of the helical phase winding, motivating the use of condensed atoms in ring-shaped traps.
Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
arXiv:2606.04430 [physics.atom-ph]
(or arXiv:2606.04430v1 [physics.atom-ph] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2606.04430 arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
Full text under the publisher's open licence · 154 words
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