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research article
A quantum trampoline for ultra-cold atoms
2010
We have observed the interferometric suspension of a free-falling Bose-Einstein condensate periodically submitted to multiple-order diffraction by a vertical 1D standing wave. This scheme permits simultaneously the compensation of gravity and coherent splitting/recombination of the matter waves. It results in high-contrast interference in the number of atoms detected at constant height. For long suspension times, multiple-wave interference is revealed through a sharpening of the fringes. We characterize our atom interferometer and use it to measure the acceleration of gravity.
Type
research article
Authors
Robert-de-Saint-Vincent, M.
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Borde, Ch. J.
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Aspect, A.
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Bourdel, T.
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Bouyer, P.
Publication date
2010
Publisher
Published in
Volume
89
Issue
1
Article Number
10002
Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
EPFL units
Available on Infoscience
March 16, 2017
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