Accession Number:

ADA279532

Title:

Atom Wave Interferometer

Descriptive Note:

Annual rept., 1 Dec 1992-30 Nov 1993

Corporate Author:

MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH LAB OF ELECTRONICS

Personal Author(s):

• Pritchard, D.

Report Date:

1994-05-13

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

In the early part of the current grant period we made many improvements to the apparatus. We have used our now reliable separated beam atom interferometer to perform several pioneering measurements. Recent improvements in our fabrication techniques at NNF for 200nm period gratings with absolute phase stability over large areas, improvements in sensitivity and time response of our detector, and learning how to stretch thin foils extremely flat over 10 cm lengths have enabled us to operate our interferometer with a metal septum between the two separated components of the atom wave which interferes with itself at the third grating. By taking data in very short time intervals two or three milliseconds and improving the frequency response of our servo electronics, we have been able to overcome the effects of vibration, at least up to about 100 Hz, simply by storing the datum of each short period with other data taken at the same position as measured with the laser interferometer. This has resulted in higher contrast for the fringes.

Descriptors:

• *ATOMS
• *BEAM SPLITTING
• *INTERFEROMETERS
• *WAVES
• FREQUENCY
• METALS
• VIBRATION
• TIME
• OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS
• RESPONSE
• MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
• GRATINGS(SPECTRA)
• PHASE
• LASERS
• DETECTORS
• FABRICATION

Subject Categories:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy
• Optics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE