Exact phase shifts for atom interferometry

In the case of an external Hamiltonian at most quadratic in position and momentum operators, we use the ABCD formulation of atom optics to establish an exact analytical phase shift expression for atom interferometers with arbitrary spatial or temporal beam splitter configurations. This result is expressed in terms of coordinates and momenta of the wave packet centers at the interaction vertices only.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Lett.

Spin-gravity coupling and gravity-induced quantum phases

External gravitational fields induce phase factors in the wave functions of particles. The phases are exact to first order in the background gravitational field, are manifestly covariant and gauge invariant and provide a useful tool for the study of spin-gravity coupling and of the optics of particles in gravitational or inertial fields. We discuss the role that spin-gravity coupling plays in particular problems.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project

We summarise the scientific and technological aspects of the SAGAS (Search for Anomalous Gravitation using Atomic Sensors) project, submitted to ESA in June 2007 in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 call for proposals. The proposed mission aims at flying highly sensitive atomic sensors (optical clock, cold atom accelerometer, optical link) on a Solar System escape trajectory in the 2020 to 2030 time-frame. SAGAS has numerous science objectives in fundamental physics and Solar System science, for example numerous tests of general relativity and the exploration of the Kuiper belt. The combination of highly sensitive atomic sensors and of the laser link well adapted for large distances will allow measurements with unprecedented accuracy and on scales never reached before. We present the proposed mission in some detail, with particular emphasis on the science goals and associated measurements.Comment: 39 pages. Submitted in abridged version to Experimental Astronom

COMMENTS ON PHOTOACOUSTIC AND PHOTOTHERMAL SPECTROSCOPY OF GASES COMPARED TO OPTICAL METHODS

On analyse l'influence de quelques paramètres physiques (moment de transition, temps de relaxation, pression...) qui conditionnent la sensibilité ultime des détections photoacoustique et photothermique (PA/PT) que l'on compare aux méthodes de détection optique. On montre que c'est seulement à haute pression (faible résolution) et/ou pour des transitions faiblement autorisées que les méthodes PA et PT sont avantageuses en spectroscopie. Dans le domaine sous-Doppler on aura intérêt à utiliser une détection optique pour les transitions fortes et une détection bolométrique pour les transitions faibles.We discuss the influence of some critical parameters, especially the pressure, on the sensitivity of photoacoustic and photothermal methods for high resolution spectroscopy. We show that these methods lose their sensitivity in the sub-Doppler regime where they are advantageously replaced by optical detection (for which the shot noise limit can be reached with high frequency modulation techniques) or by detection of the internal excitation energy carried by the molecules onto a bolometer

Gravimètre à cavité d'ondes de matière

We describe a matter-wave cavity based gravimeter closed on one end by periodic Gaussian Raman pulses. The gravimeter sensitivity increases quickly with the number of cycles experienced by the condensate inside the cavity. The matter wave is refocused thanks to a spherical wavefront for the Raman pulses. This technique opens the way to experimental realizations of controllable atom optics devices such as condensate lenses or convergent mirrors