Phase resolution limit in macroscopic interference between Bose-Einstein condensates

Abstract

We study the competition between phase definition and quantum phase fluctuations in interference experiments between independently formed Bose condensates. While phase-sensitive detection of atoms makes the phase progressively better defined, interactions tend to randomize it faster as the uncertainty in the relative particle number grows. A steady state is reached when the two effects cancel each other. Then the phase resolution saturates to a value that grows with the ratio between the interaction strength and the atom detection rate, and the average phase and number begin to fluctuate classically. We discuss how our study applies to both recently performed and possible future experiments.

4 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (4)

• Theory of Bose-Einstein condensation in trapped gases
• An Atom Laser with a cw Output Coupler
• Comment on ``Phase and Phase Diffusion of a Split Bose-Einstein Condensate''
• Creation of coherence in Bose-Einstein condensates by atom detection

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Dynamical Realization of Macroscopic Superposition States of Cold Bosons in a Tilted Double Well
• The hidden phase of Fock states; quantum non-local effects
• Phase dynamics after connection of two separate Bose-Einstein condensates
• Quantum metrology beyond Heisenberg limit with entangled matter wave solitons
• The origin of phase in the interference of Bose-Einstein condensates
• Creation of macroscopic superposition states from arrays of Bose-Einstein condensates
• Dissipative quantum oscillator with two competing heat baths
• Protected cat states from kinetic driving of a boson gas