Atom Interferometry contains contributions from theoretical and experimental physicists at the forefront of this rapidly developing field. Editor Paul R. Berman includes an excellent balance of background material and recent experimental results,providing a general overview of atom interferometry and demonstrating the promise that it holds for the future. Key Features * Includes contributions from many of the research groups that have pioneered this emerging field * Discusses and demonstrates new aspects of the wave nature of atoms * Explains the many important applications of atom interferometry, from a measurement of the gravitational constant to atom lithography * Examines applications of atom interferometry to fundamentally important quantum mechanics problems
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ATOM INTERFEROMETRY This Page Intentionally Left Blank ATOM INTERFEROMETRY Edited by Paul R. Berman PHYSICS DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN A C A D E M I C PRESS San Diego New York London Sydney Boston Tokyo Toronto This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright 91997 by Academic Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ACADEMIC PRESS, INC. 525 B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA 1300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167, USA http://www.apnet.com Academic Press Limited 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DX, UK http://www.hbuk.co.uk/ap/ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Atom interferometry / edited by Paul R. Berman. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-12-092460-9 1. Interferometry. 2. Interferometers. 3. A t o m s a O p t i c a l properties. I. Berman, Paul R. QC411.A86 1997 96-9899 539.7mdc20 CIP Printed in the United States of America 96 97 98 99 00 BB 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents CONTRIBUTORS ix xiii PREFACE Optics and Interferometry with Atoms and Molecules J. Schmiedmayer, M. S. Chapman, C. R. Ekstrom, T. D. Hammond, D. A. Kokorowski, A. Lenef, R. A. Rubenstein, E. T. Smith, and D . E . Pritchard I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II. III. B e a m Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Optics for A t o m s and Molecules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV. V. Interferometry with A t o m s and Molecules . . . . . . . . . . . A t o m Interferometry Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VI. VII. VIII. IX. Measuring Atomic and Molecular Properties F u n d a m e n t a l Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inertial Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix: Frequently Used S y m b o l s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 9 18 30 39 51 65 71 76 79 Classical and Quantum Atom Fringes H. Batelaan, S. Bernet, M. K. Oberthaler, E. M. Rasel, J. Schmiedmayer, and A. Zeilinger I. II. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Experimental Apparatus