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This study experimentally validates atom interferometry using the transverse phase profiles of Hypergeometric Gaussian beams, demonstrating rotation sensitivity that scales linearly with orbital angular momentum. By characterizing thermal decoherence near phase singularities, the research provides a theoretical basis for optimizing atom interferometers with condensed atoms in ring-shaped traps. This advancement offers a novel approach to enhancing precision in inertial sensing and quantum metrology through specific optical mode engineering.
Atom Interferometry with Transverse Optical Modes
arXiv:2606.04430v2 Announce Type: replace-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:2606.04430v2 [physics.atom-ph] for this version)
Full text under the publisher's open licence · 147 words
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