44 research outputs found
Correction of dephasing oscillations in matter wave interferometry
Vibrations, electromagnetic oscillations and temperature drifts are among the
main reasons for dephasing in matter-wave interferometry. Sophisticated
interferometry experiments, e.g. with ions or heavy molecules, often require
integration times of several minutes due to the low source intensity or the
high velocity selection. Here we present a scheme to suppress the influence of
such dephasing mechanisms - especially in the low-frequency regime - by
analyzing temporal and spatial particle correlations available in modern
detectors. Such correlations can reveal interference properties that would
otherwise be washed out due to dephasing by external oscillating signals. The
method is shown experimentally in a biprism electron interferometer where a
perturbing oscillation is artificially introduced by a periodically varying
magnetic field. We provide a full theoretical description of the particle
correlations where the perturbing frequency and amplitude can be revealed from
the disturbed interferogram. The original spatial fringe pattern without the
perturbation can thereby be restored. The technique can be applied to lower the
general noise requirements in matter-wave interferometers. It allows for the
optimization of electromagnetic shielding and decreases the efforts for
vibrational or temperature stabilization