63 research outputs found
Influence of the Coriolis force in atom interferometry
In a light-pulse atom interferometer, we use a tip-tilt mirror to remove the
influence of the Coriolis force from Earth's rotation and to characterize
configuration space wave packets. For interferometers with large momentum
transfer and large pulse separation time, we improve the contrast by up to 350%
and suppress systematic effects. We also reach what is to our knowledge the
largest spacetime area enclosed in any atom interferometer to date. We discuss
implications for future high performance instruments.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl
Testing spontaneous localization theories with matter-wave interferometry
We propose to test the theory of continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) in
an all-optical time-domain Talbot-Lau interferometer for clusters with masses
exceeding 1000000 amu. By assessing the relevant environmental decoherence
mechanisms, as well as the growing size of the particles relative to the
grating fringes, we argue that it will be feasible to test the quantum
superposition principle in a mass range excluded by recent estimates of the CSL
effect.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; corresponds to published versio
Attractive force on atoms due to blackbody radiation
Objects at finite temperature emit thermal radiation with an outward
energy-momentum flow, which exerts an outward radiation pressure. At room
temperature, a cesium atom scatters on average less than one of these blackbody
radiation photons every 10^8 years. Thus, it is generally assumed that any
scattering force exerted on atoms by such radiation is negligible. However,
atoms also interact coherently with the thermal electromagnetic field. In this
work, we measure an attractive force induced by blackbody radiation between a
cesium atom and a heated, centimeter-sized cylinder which is orders of
magnitude stronger than the outward directed radiation pressure. Using atom
interferometry, we find that this force scales with the fourth power of the
cylinder`s temperature. The force is in good agreement with that predicted from
an ac Stark shift gradient of the atomic ground state in the thermal radiation
field. This observed force dominates over both gravity and radiation pressure,
and does so for a large temperature range
Acoustic tests of Lorentz symmetry using quartz oscillators
We propose and demonstrate a test of Lorentz symmetry based on new, compact,
and reliable quartz oscillator technology. Violations of Lorentz invariance in
the matter and photon-sector of the standard model extension (SME) generate
anisotropies in particles' inertial masses and the elastic constants, giving
rise to measurable anisotopies in the resonance frequencies of acoustic modes
in solids. A first realization of such a "phonon-sector" test of Lorentz
symmetry using room-temperature SC-cut crystals provides a limit of \,GeV on the most weakly constrained
neutron-sector coefficient of the SME. Future experiments with cryogenic
oscillators promise significant improvements in accuracy, opening up the
potential for improved limits on Lorentz violation in the neutron, proton,
electron and photon sector.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. Added reference
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