A two-state Raman coupler for coherent atom optics

Abstract

We present results on a Raman laser-system that resonantly drives a closed two-photon transition between two levels in different hyperfine ground states of 87Rb. The coupler is based on a novel optical design for producing two phase-coherent optical beams to drive a Raman transition. Operated as an outcoupler, it produces an atom laser in a single internal atomic state, with the lower divergence and increased brightness typical of a Raman outcoupler. Due to the optical nature of the outcoupling, the two-state outcoupler is an ideal candidate for transferring photon correlations onto atom-laser beams. As our laser system couples just two hyperfine ground states, it has also been used as an internal state beamsplitter, taking the next major step towards free space Ramsey interferometry with an atom laser.

7 Pages, 4 figures: Revised and published in Optics Express

References in corpus (14)

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Atom lasers: production, properties and prospects for precision inertial measurement
• Quantum projection noise limited interferometry with coherent atoms in a Ramsey type setup
• The space atom laser: An isotropic source for ultra-cold atoms in microgravity
• Ramsey interferometry with an atom laser
• Experimental comparison of Raman and RF outcouplers for high flux atom lasers
• Quantum gravimetry in the same internal state using composite light Raman pulses
• Generation of directional, coherent matter beams through dynamical instabilities in Bose-Einstein condensates
• Trap Frequency Measurement with a Pulsed Atom Laser