Coherence limits in lattice atom interferometry at the one-minute scale

Abstract

In quantum metrology and quantum simulation, a coherent non-classical state must be manipulated before unwanted interactions with the environment lead to decoherence. In atom interferometry, the non-classical state is a spatial superposition, where each atom coexists in multiple locations as a collection of phase-coherent partial wavepackets. These states enable precise measurements in fundamental physics and inertial sensing. However, atom interferometers usually use atomic fountains, where the available interrogation time is limited to around 3 seconds for a 10 m fountain. Here, we realise an atom interferometer with a spatial superposition state that is maintained for as long as 70 seconds. We analyse the theoretical and experimental limits to coherence arising from collective dephasing of the atomic ensemble. This reveals that the decoherence rate slows down markedly at hold times that exceed tens of seconds. These gains in coherence may enable gravimetry measurements, searches for fifth forces or fundamental probes into the non-classical nature of gravity.

28 pages, 10 figures

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• Reinforcement Learning for Rotation Sensing with Ultracold Atoms in an Optical Lattice
• Gravitational entanglement witness through Einstein ring image
• Microscopic theory of a precessing ferromagnet for ultrasensitive magnetometry
• Witnessing mass-energy equivalence with trapped atom interferometers
• Geometric phase amplification in a clock interferometer for enhanced metrology
• Unified laboratory-frame analysis of atomic gravitational-wave sensors
• Scalable Generation of Massive Schrödinger Cat States via Quantum Tunneling
• A symmetry-protected topological optical lattice clock
• Probing the nonclassical dynamics of a quantum particle in a gravitational field
• Sudden Decoherence by Resonant Particle Excitation for Testing Gravity-Induced Entanglement
• Existing experiments suffice to indirectly verify the quantum essence of gravity
• Quantum nature of gravity in a Bose-Einstein condensate