Demonstration and characterization of a detector for minimally destructive detection of Bose condensed atoms in real time

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 measureme...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied optics (2004) 2006-05, Vol.45 (15), p.3415-3419
Main Authors: Figl, Cristina, Longchambon, Laurent, Jeppesen, Matthew, Kruger, Michael, Bachor, Hans A, Robins, Nicholas P, Close, John D
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1559-128X
DOI:10.1364/AO.45.003415