Published April 2002 | Version v1
Journal article

Transverse mode of an atom laser

  • 1. Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, DK-8000 Aarhus C (Denmark)
  • 2. Institute of Quantum Electronics, ETH Hoenggerberg, CH-8093 Zurich (Switzerland)
  • 3. Sektion Physik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Schellingstrasse 4/III, D-80799 Munich (Germany)

Description

The transverse mode of an atom laser beam that is outcoupled from a Bose-Einstein condensate is investigated and is found to be strongly determined by the mean-field interaction of the laser beam with the condensate. For repulsive interactions, the condensate acts as a diverging lens for the outcoupled atoms, and transverse interference fringes in the atomic beam are predicted due to the coherent addition of amplitudes for atoms emitted from different regions in the condensate. This effect can be used to investigate the transverse coherence of an atom laser beam

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review. A
Journal Volume
65
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
p. 043615-043615.4
ISSN
1050-2947
CODEN
PLRAAN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
36030325
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
AMPLITUDES; ATOMIC BEAMS; ATOMS; BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION; EMISSION; INTERACTIONS; INTERFERENCE; LASERS; MEAN-FIELD THEORY; OPTICS; PHOTON-ATOM COLLISIONS; QUANTUM MECHANICS; RADIATION PRESSURE; ZEEMAN EFFECT
Descriptors DEC
ATOM COLLISIONS; BEAMS; COLLISIONS; MECHANICS; PHOTON COLLISIONS

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2002 The American Physical Society