High-flux source system for matter-wave interferometry exploiting tunable interactions

authored by
A. Herbst, T. Estrampes, H. Albers, V. Vollenkemper, K. Stolzenberg, S. Bode, E. Charron, E. M. Rasel, N. Gaaloul, D. Schlippert
Abstract

Atom interferometers allow determining inertial effects to high accuracy. Quantum-projection noise as well as systematic effects impose demands on large atomic flux as well as ultralow expansion rates. Here we report on a high-flux source of ultracold atoms with free expansion rates near the Heisenberg limit directly upon release from the trap. Our results are achieved in a time-averaged optical dipole trap and enabled through dynamic tuning of the atomic scattering length across two orders of magnitude interaction strength via magnetic Feshbach resonances. We demonstrate Bose-Einstein condensates with more than 6×104 particles after evaporative cooling for 170 ms and their subsequent release with a minimal expansion energy of 4.5 nK in one direction. Based on our results we estimate the performance of an atom interferometer and compare our source system to a high performance chip trap, as readily available for ultraprecise measurements in microgravity environments.

Organisation(s)
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
Institute of Quantum Optics
Quantum Sensing
Guided Matter Wave Interferometry
Laboratory of Nano and Quantum Engineering
QUEST-Leibniz Research School
QuantumFrontiers
External Organisation(s)
Université Paris-Saclay
Type
Article
Journal
Physical Review Research
Volume
6
ISSN
2643-1564
Publication date
02.02.2024
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Physics and Astronomy
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.6.013139 (Access: Open)