John D. Perreault

Observation of Atom Wave Phase Shifts Induced by Van Der Waals Atom-Surface Interactions

The development of nanotechnology and atom optics relies on understanding how atoms behave and interact with their environment. Isolated atoms can exhibit wavelike (coherent) behavior with a corresponding de Broglie wavelength and phase which can be affected by nearby surfaces. Here an atom interferometer is used to measure the phase shift of Na atom waves induced by the walls of a 50 nm wide cavity. To our knowledge this is the first direct measurement of the de Broglie wave phase shift caused by atom-surface interactions. The magnitude of the phase shift is in agreement with that predicted by Lifshitz theory for a nonretarded van der Waals interaction. This experiment also demonstrates that atom waves can retain their coherence even when atom-surface distances are as small as 10 nm.

Matter-wave decoherence due to a gas environment in an atom interferometer

Decoherence due to scattering from background gas particles is observed for the first time in a Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer, and compared with decoherence due to scattering photons. A single theory is shown to describe decoherence due to scattering either atoms or photons. Predictions from this theory are tested by experiments with different species of background gas, and also by experiments with different collimation restrictions on an atom beam interferometer.

Phasor analysis of atom diffraction from a rotated material grating

An atom-surface interaction was detected by studying atom diffraction from a rotated material grating. A phasor diagram similar to the Cornu spiral was developed to explain why there are no missing orders in atom diffraction from material gratings. We also show that atom-surface interactions combined with rotated grating structures can produce asymmetric, i.e., blazed, diffraction patterns. Our conceptual discussion is supported by experimental observations with a sodium atom beam and silicon nitride gratings. The data are consistent with the nonretarded van der Waals interaction.

Cover slip external cavity diode laser

A 671 nm diode laser with a mode-hop-free tuning range of 40 GHz is described. This long tuning range is achieved by simultaneously ramping the external cavity length with the laser injection current. The laser output pointing remains fixed, independent of its frequency because of the cover slip cavity design. This system is simple, economical, robust, and easy to use for spectroscopy, as we demonstrate with lithium vapor and lithium atom beam experiments.

Analysis of a material phase shifting element in an atom interferometer

The interaction of Na atoms with a surface was probed by inserting a nanofabricated material grating into one arm of an atom interferometer (IFM). This technique permits a direct measurement of the change in phase and coherence of matter waves as they pass within 25 nm of the grating bar surface. The practical concerns and challenges of making such a measurement are discussed here. Interference of spurious diffraction orders, IFM path overlap, and the partial obscuration of IFM beams are all important aspects of this experiment. The systematic effects that contribute to the measured phase shift and contrast are discussed.

de Broglie wave phase shifts induced by surfaces closer than 25 nm

Four atom optics experiments that each serve to measure atom-surface interactions near nanofabricated gratings are presented here. In these experiments atoms in a beam travel within 25 nm of a material grating bar, and the analysis incorporates phase shifts for the atomic de Broglie waves due to interactions betwen Na atoms and silicon nitride surfaces. One atom diffraction experiment determines the van der Waals coeficient C3 = 2.7 ± 0.8 meV nm3, and one atom interferometer experiment determines C3 = 4 ± 1 meV nm3. The results of all four experiments are consistent with the Lifshitz prediction that is explicitly calculated here for Nasilicon nitride to be C3 = 3.25 meV nm3. The four atom optics experiments and review of van der Waals theory are complemented by similar experiments using electron beams and analysis of image-charge effects.