Large-angle adjustable coherent atomic beam splitter by Bragg scattering

A.E.A. Koolen, G.T. Jansen, K.F.E.M. Domen, H.C.W. Beijerinck, K.A.H. Leeuwen, van

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Using a "monochromatic" (single-axial-velocity) and slow (250 m/s) beam of metastable helium atoms, we realize up to eighth-order Bragg scattering and obtain a splitting angle of 6 mrad at low laser power (3 mW). This corresponds to a truly macroscopic separation of 12 mm on the detector. For fifth-order scattering, we have observed several oscillations of the splitting ratio when varying the laser power ("Pendellosung oscillations"). The large splitting angle, the adjustable splitting ratio, and the cleanness of the split beams, with 200- mu m rms width each, make the beam splitter ideal for a large-enclosed-area atom interferometer
Original languageEnglish
Article number041601
Pages (from-to)041601-1/4
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review A: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Volume65
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002

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