Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules

Alexander D. Cronin, Jörg Schmiedmayer, and David E. Pritchard
Rev. Mod. Phys. 81, 1051 – Published 28 July 2009

Abstract

Interference with atomic and molecular matter waves is a rich branch of atomic physics and quantum optics. It started with atom diffraction from crystal surfaces and the separated oscillatory fields technique used in atomic clocks. Atom interferometry is now reaching maturity as a powerful art with many applications in modern science. In this review the basic tools for coherent atom optics are described including diffraction by nanostructures and laser light, three-grating interferometers, and double wells on atom chips. Scientific advances in a broad range of fields that have resulted from the application of atom interferometers are reviewed. These are grouped in three categories: (i) fundamental quantum science, (ii) precision metrology, and (iii) atomic and molecular physics. Although some experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates are included, the focus of the review is on linear matter wave optics, i.e., phenomena where each single atom interferes with itself.

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    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.81.1051

    ©2009 American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    Alexander D. Cronin*

    • Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA

    Jörg Schmiedmayer

    • Atominstitut Österreichischen Universitäten, TU-Wien, Austria

    David E. Pritchard

    • Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

    • *cronin@physics.arizona.edu
    • schmiedmayer@atomchip.org
    • dpritch@mit.edu

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    Issue

    Vol. 81, Iss. 3 — July - September 2009

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