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arXiv · 2203.07017

Bragg-diffraction-induced imperfections of the signal in retroreflective atom interferometers

Jens Jenewein·Sabrina Hartmann·Albert Roura·Enno Giese
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Abstract

We present a detailed study of the effects of imperfect atom-optical manipulation in Bragg-based light-pulse atom interferometers. Off-resonant higher-order diffraction leads to population loss, spurious interferometer paths, and diffraction phases. In a path-dependent formalism, we study numerically various effects and analyze the interference signal caused by an external phase or gravity. We compare first-order single and double Bragg diffraction in retroreflective setups. In double Bragg diffraction, phase imperfections lead to a beating due to three-path interference. Some effects of diffraction phases can be avoided by adding the population of the outer exit ports of double diffraction.

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Jens Jenewein, Sabrina Hartmann, Albert Roura, Enno Giese. 2022-03-14. Bragg-diffraction-induced imperfections of the signal in retroreflective atom interferometers. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.105.063316

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