2005/08/20 by C. Figl, Laurent Longchambon, L. Longchambon +7
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Astronomical interferometer #Atom interferometer #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Bandwidth (computing) #Bose–Einstein condensate #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Computer science #Detector #Interferometry #Laser #Noise (video) #Optics #Physics #Quantum #Quantum mechanics #Shot noise #Telecommunications #Ultracold atom #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1364/ao.45.003415
published as Appl. Opt. 45, 3415 (2006) · 3 pages, 3 figures, submitted to optics letters
arxiv created 2005/08/20 · openalex publication_date 2006/05/17 · arxiv updated 2015/06/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the first detector that is capable of recording high-bandwidth atom number density measurements of a Bose-Einstein condensate, with a readout of the data in real time. It is based on a shot-noise-limited unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer designed for a minimally destructive measurement of the atom column density of a Bose-Einstein condensate. The shot-noise limit is reached by phase modulating the laser in one arm and phase locking the interferometer with a second-color laser. The detector is characterized, and its sensitivity for a fractional change in the column density of a Bose-Einstein condensate is calculated. With this detection system it may be possible to implement feedback to stabilize a Bose-Einstein condensate or an atom laser.