Preparing and Probing Atomic Number States With an Atom Interferometer

Published

May 17, 2007

Author(s)

Jennifer Sebby-Strabley, Ben L. Brown, M Anderlini, Patricia J. Lee, William D. Phillips, James V. Porto, Philip R. Johnson

Abstract

We describe the controlled loading and measurement of number-squeezed states and Poisson states in individual sites of a double well optical lattice. These states are input to an atom interferometer that is realized by symmetrically splitting individual lattice sites into double wells, allowing atoms in individual sites to evolve independently. The two paths then interfere, creating a matter-wave double-slit diffraction pattern. The time evolution of the double-slit diffraction pattern is used to measure the number statistics of the input state. Theflexibility of our double well lattice provides a means to detect the presence of empty lattice sites, an important and so far unmeasured factor in determining the fidelity of a Mott state.

Citation

Physical Review Letters

Volume

98

Issue

20

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

Bose Einstein Condensate, double well, optical lattices Quantum information

Citation

Sebby-Strabley, J. , Brown, B. , Anderlini, M. , Lee, P. , Phillips, W. , Porto, J. and Johnson, P. (2007), Preparing and Probing Atomic Number States With an Atom Interferometer, Physical Review Letters (Accessed October 11, 2025)